Twitter Reactions: Shai Hope flattens Bangladesh single-handedly in series opener

Windies came into the T20I series against Bangladesh on the back of two series defeats against the Tigers. However, the visiting team came into their own and registered their first victory of the series at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium by eight wickets. More importantly, they won with as many as 53 balls to spare courtesy of a masterful knock from opening batsman Shai Hope.

Shakib- the lone ranger

Bangladesh won the toss and had no hesitation to bat and the decision was surprising as only one match out of the seven was won by the team batting second. The Tigers got off to an indifferent start as the openers Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das along with Soumya Sarkar perished for single-digit scores. Even as Sheldon Cottrell nipped out Tamim and Sarkar, Oshane Thomas dismissed Das.

The likes of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah flattered to deceive as well as the Caribbean team dominated their opponents. At the other end, skipper Shakib Al Hasan played a brilliant knock of 61 runs from 43 balls with eight fours and a couple of sixes. Cottrell removed him, but Bangladesh could only manage a below-par score of 129 and were bowled out one over short of the 20 overs.

Hope blazes away

The Caribbean team came out all guns blazing and got the Tigers’ bowlers by the scruff of their necks. Openers Evin Lewis and Shai Hope cobbled together a stand of 51 runs from 20 balls, which pushed Bangladesh on the backfoot. Fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin dismissed the left-handed Lewis for 18 to give his team a breakthrough. Nevertheless, Hope didn’t stop wielding the willow.

He accomplished his fifty off merely 16 balls, depositing Mehidy Hasan Miraz over deep mid-wicket. It also happened to be the third fastest half-century in T20I cricket. Mahmudullah eventually accounted for his dismissal after the right-hander scored 55 runs from 23 balls with three fours and as many sixes. Nicholas Pooran and Keemo Paul notched 23 and 28 each to get Windies over the line.

Here is how Twitter hailed Hope and Windies

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