Denesh Ramdin hits a big six against Bangladesh at Warner Park, on Monday. (PHOTO: WICB MEDIA/RANDY BROOKS)
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — Denesh Ramdin and Darren Bravo entered the record books with blistering centuries as West Indies brushed aside Bangladesh by 91 runs to complete a clean sweep of the three-match One-Day International series here Monday night.
Ramdin roared to 169, while Bravo smashed his way to 124 in a record-breaking double century partnership that powered West Indies to 338 for seven from 50 overs at Warner Park.
Half-centuries from Tamim Iqbal and captain Mushfiqur Rahim provided small sparks to the Bangladesh run chase but not enough to propel them to the massive target as they stumbled to 247 for eight when the overs ran out.
Ramdin and Bravo boosted the innings in a blazing third-wicket stand that yielded 258 runs and transformed the game after the regional side, put in to bat, had lost openers Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons with just 12 runs on the board.
Their stand was the highest for any wicket in ODIs for the West Indies and beat Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers’ 238-run union for the third-wicket against Pakistan comfortably.
Ramdin’s effort, highlighted by 11 sixes and eight fours off 121 balls, equalled batting legend Brian Lara for the third-highest individual innings by a West Indian in one-dayers.
Only Sir Viv Richards has higher individual scores — 189 not out against England in Manchester in 1984 and 181 against Sri Lanka at the 1987 World Cup in Karachi.
Bravo was overshadowed by Ramdin’s hitting, but unleashed fluent and powerful shots, hammering eight sixes and seven fours off 127 deliveries.
Mushfiqur Rahim missed a straightforward stumping chance off Abdur Razzak when Bravo was on 10 as Bangladesh’s fielding deteriorated.
Razzak himself was at fault in the field as he moved slowly at mid-on towards a miscued swing by Ramdin, then on 35, off Mashrafe Mortaza.
Al-Amin Hossain impressed with the ball following his performances in the first ODIs in Grenada.
He removed Chris Gayle and then returned to add the key wicket of Darren Sammy in the 48th over while in the final over he conceded just two runs and dismissed Ramdin and Jason Holder off successive deliveries to finish with four for 49.
Bangladesh started poorly on the chase slumping to two wickets for two runs after Jason Holder and Ravi Rampaul removed Anamul Haque and Imrul Kayes in successive overs.
But captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal crafted a gritty 99-run partnership for the third wicket, a glimpse of ambition against a mammoth target.
Rahim threatened to take the fight to the West Indies but with a run rate which was becoming increasingly elusive the visitors settled for achieving a respectable score after their hammering in the first two matches in Grenada last week.
The captain compiled 72 runs, while Iqbal contributed 55, the only two batsmen to score more than 30 runs.
Ravi Rampaul was the pick of the West Indies bowlers in finishing with four for 29.
Ramdin was voted man of the match and man of the series.
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