Geo Sports

Samuels, Simmons star in Windies series win

DHAKA: Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons cracked half-centuries to help the West Indies clinch the one-day series with an easy eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second match on Saturday. Samuels scored a brisk 88 not out and opener Simmons an impressive 80 as the West Indies achieved a 221-run target with more than seven overs to spare in the day-night match for an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-game series. The final one-dayer will be played in Chittagong on Tuesday. Simmons, who hit a century in his team's 40-run win in the opening match, added 71 for the opening wicket with Danza Hyatt (39) and 111 for the second wicket with Samuels to ensure the victory. Samuels smashed one six and 12 fours in his 74-ball knock for his second successive half-century, while Simmons hit three sixes and as many fours in his 125-ball knock. Bangladesh, reeling at 1-3 and then at 18-4 in the opening five overs after winning the toss, were earlier steadied by skipper Mushfiqur Rahim who hit a 109-ball 69 under pressure. West Indies paceman Kemar Roach and birthday boy Ravi Rampaul did the early damage when they took two wickets apiece in their opening spells. Wicket-keeper Rahim, playing his 100th one-day international, added 40 runs for the fifth wicket with Alok Kapali (20) and 57 for the next with Naeem Islam (30). The Bangladeshi captain hit one six and two fours before being caught by Samuels at deep square-leg off seamer Andre Russell while going for a big shot in the 40th over. Nasir Hossain scored a useful 54-ball 50 and Abdur Razzak contributed 25 off 19 balls to help Bangladesh cross the 200-mark. The hosts made a dismal start when they lost three wickets for just one run in the first two overs, with Roach taking two wickets in the space of four balls and Rampaul one. Fast bowler Rampaul, who turned 27 on Saturday, struck with his fourth delivery when he had opener Imrul Kayes caught by wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin for no score. Roach dismissed opener Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful in his opening over before Rampaul removed former skipper Shakib Al Hasan (12) to reduce the hosts to 18-4.