Opener Anamul Haque struck his maiden international century
as Bangladesh crushed West Indies by 160 runs in the second
one-day international to record their biggest win in the
50-over format.
Playing only his second one dayer, right-handed batsman
Anamul smashed 120 off 145 balls to help Bangladesh post
292-6 before the hosts skittled out West Indies for 132 for a
comprehensive win that put them 2-0 up in the five-match
series.
"I have scored 10 hundreds in 11 months this year (in
domestic cricket and at under-19 level)," Anamul told
reporters.
"The difference is in the experience of the bowlers, they
bowl fewer loose balls and they have variations. There's
crowd pressure and you are playing for your country.
"There's a lot of difference between scoring hundreds
anywhere else and one for the Bangladesh team. I had thought
about such a thing, but it was only in my fantasies that I
would score a century in my second international match."
The victory at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna
bettered Bangladesh's 146-run win against Scotland in Dhaka
in 2006.
Anamul shared 174 runs with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (79), a
record for Bangladesh for the third wicket, which lifted the
hosts after West Indies had put them in and reduced them to
21 for two inside seven overs.
The duo fell just one run short of Bangladesh's highest ever
ODI partnership set by Habibul Bashar and Rajin Saleh against
Kenya in 2006 when Rahim was out after his 87-ball knock.
Anamul, the top scorer in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in
August, had a nervous wait for his century but eventually
reached his ton with a single off Ravi Rampaul in the 47th
over of the innings.
The opener, who turns 20 on Dec. 16, took 23 balls to go from
90 to 100 but compensated by hitting Andre Russell for two
sixes and a four in consecutive balls in the next over.
Rampaul, pick of the West Indies bowlers with career-best
figures of 5-49, eventually dismissed Anamul who hit 13
boundaries and two sixes in his 145-ball knock.
West Indies were under pressure right from the beginning as
the first four overs produced only five runs despite the
presence of destructive batsmen Chris Gayle (15).
Opener Lendl Simmons (9) fell to off-spinner Sohag Gazi
(3-21) and the visitors' problems were compounded when Gayle
was dismissed caught behind off paceman Mashrafe Mortaza.
Gazi struck another crucial blow by removing Marlon Samuels
(16) before left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak (3-19) broke the
back of the West Indies batting order.
The teams travel to Dhaka for the third match on Wednesday.
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