West Indies slumped to a five-wicket defeat to hosts Bangladesh in the first of the three-match One-Day International series (OD) in Dhaka on Sunday, Dec. 9.
A change in format made no difference to the Windies fortunes as another poor batting display.
Rovan Powell was brought in as interim captain (captain) (Jason Holder is on the injury list) and middle order batsman Darren Bravo was recalled to the team for the first time in two years since his controversial banishment from international cricket, while Roston Chase has found his way 18 months after a failed start to his One-Day International career.
Choosing to bat first at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, West Indies stumbled their way to an uncompetitive 195 for nine of their 50 overs, with opener Shai Hope top-scoring with 43.
The regional team crawled to 79 for three at the halfway stage of the innings and they needed heavy scoring knocks from Keemo Paul (36) and Chase (32) down the order to lift the tempo.
Bravo, plying in his first One-Day International in two years, also found himself bogged down and his 19 runs came from a 51-ball labor at the crease in a 36-run second wicket stand with Hope that required 76 balls.
Seamers Mashrafe Mortaza (3-30) and Mustafizur Rahim (3-35) kept the West Indies in check, limiting them to their fourth-lowest total against Bangladesh.
In reply, Bangladesh overcame the loss of early wickets to coast to their target in the 36th over, with wicketkeeper Mushifqur Rahim hitting an unbeaten 55 and Linton Dass gathering 41.
Having suffered a 2-0 whitewash in the preceding Test series, West Indies is now staring at yet another series defeat.
