KINGSTOWN: Bangladesh secured a hard-fought seven-run victory over the West Indies in the first T20I of their three-match series at the Arnos Vale Stadium on Sunday.
The visitors defended a modest total of 146/7, with Hasan Mahmud delivering a brilliant final over to seal the win.
With the West Indies chasing a challenging target, the match seemed to be slipping away from Bangladesh as Rovman Powell ignited the home crowd with a stunning innings.
Powell smashed 60 off 35 balls, including five fours and four sixes, bringing the West Indies back into contention from a precarious position of 61 for seven in the 12th over.
A pivotal eighth-wicket partnership of 68 runs off 38 balls between Powell and fellow all-rounder Romario Shepherd (22) turned the tide in the West Indies' favor.
Despite Shepherd's dismissal in the 19th over, Powell remained at the crease, and with just nine runs needed for victory, the game hung in the balance as Mahmud took to the bowling crease for the final over.
The Bangladeshi seamer responded to the pressure with remarkable composure, dismissing Powell off the third ball with a catch behind the stumps by captain Litton Das.
Mahmud then sent Alzarri Joseph packing for a duck two balls later, clean bowling him to leave the West Indies needing 9 runs with just one wicket remaining.
McCoy, who had claimed his 50th T20I wicket earlier, was left stranded at the non-striker's end, unable to prevent the loss.
Earlier in the match, the West Indies' left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein put in an outstanding effort with the ball, conceding just 13 runs from four overs and taking two wickets.
McCoy finished with two wickets for 30 runs, but it was Bangladesh's late surge that tilted the game in their favor after a slow start.
Bangladesh, having been restricted to 96 for five by the 15th over, saw late contributions from Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, and Mahedi Hasan to boost their total.
Opener Soumya Sarkar played a key role, top-scoring with 43 runs to anchor the innings.
Hasan Mahmud, who followed his crucial unbeaten knock of 26 with a stellar bowling performance of four wickets for 13 runs, was named the "Man of the Match."
