Sherfane Rutherford’s maiden hundred helps Windies seal 1st ODI vs Bangladesh

West Indies broke a 11-match losing streak against Bangladesh by winning the 1st ODI match of the series.

Playing in St Kitts on Sunday, December 8, Windies chased down a 295-run target against Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s team. Sherfane Rutherford was the start of the show, smashing 113 runs in 80 balls as West Indies secured a five-wicket win over Bangladesh with 14 balls remaining. Rutherford struck eight sixes and seven boundaries at Basseterre’s Warner Park before he was caught by Nahid Rana off Soumya Sarkar in the 47th over with only seven more runs needed. West Indies finished on 295-5.

Rurtherford found good support from Shai Hope after struggling early in the game. The batter was hit on the helmet twice by Bangladesh pacers early in the innings but found his range later in the game. Once Rutherford started striking the ball well, there was no stopping him.

“The key is working hard. I have been working hard on my game. Just be disciplined and give myself the best chance to do well. I tried to hit the gaps and run hard. I always knew I could make up in the end. It’s part of the game to get a hit. Took a few blows for the team. Always good batting with Hope. We were batting in small partnerships. I am looking to be consistent,” Sherfane Rutherford said after his maiden ODI century.

Earlier, Bangladesh had won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a respectable 294-6 in 50 overs with captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz top scoring with 74 runs in 101 balls. Opener Tanzid Hasan hit a run-a-ball 60 which featured three sixes and six fours.

Mahmudullah was 50 not out off 44 deliveries, and Jaker Ali hit a 40-ball 48, with both hitting three sixes each. Ali was out to fast-medium Romario Shepherd (3-51 in 10 overs) off the penultimate ball of the innings.

In reply, West Indies were 100-3 after 23 overs. When captain Shai Hope was dismissed by Mehidy for an 88-ball 86, including four sixes, West Indies was 193-4 after 37.1 overs. Rutherford and Justin Greaves (41 not out off 31) were up to the task and secured a statement win for the side..

The second of three ODIs and the potentially decisive third are at the same venue on Tuesday and Thursday. Bangladesh went into the ODI match having won a test in the Caribbean for the first time in 15 years.