THE West Indies have won the rain-shortened one-day international against Bangladesh by 23 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Dwayne Smith hit his maiden one-day international 50 for the West Indies as they mustered a wholly reachable 124-7 at the Arnos Vale ground in St Vincent, yesterday. Scores: West Indies 124-7 (25 overs) beat Bangladesh (101-8 (25 overs) by 23 runs.
But the Bangladeshis were checked to 101-8 following some sharp work in the field by the home side.
Ian Bradshaw boasted the best bowling figures of 3-15.
Play was delayed for four hours because of persistent rain in the morning and was eventually reduced to 25 overs.
The hosts found the going difficult in bowler-friendly conditions, justifying Bangladesh's decision to bowl first.
Man-of-the-match Smith hit 62 from 62 balls, with two fours and two sixes but none of his team-mates topped Ricardo Powell's 20.
Tapash Baisya kept the hosts quiet with four wickets in the last three overs.
Bangladesh suffered a diabolical response, slumping to 39-5 in the 12th over and then never looked capable of winning the run chase.
Resistance did come, however, in the form of Hannan Sarkar (36) and Manjural Islam (33 not out) but it was too little too late.
Bradshaw was the leading West Indies wicket-taker, claiming three victims and he was ably assisted by Fidel Edwards (2-19) and Dwayne Bravo (2-23).
The third and final match between the two sides is in Grenada on Wednesday. (BBC Sport).
WEST INDIES
C.Gayle c H.Bashar b M.Rahman 7
R.Powell c H.Bashar b K.Mahmud 20
D.Smith not out 62
S.Chanderpaul c T.Baisya b M.Islam 10
R.Sarwan b A.Kapali b T.Baisya 18
D.Bravo c K.Mahmud b T.Baisya 0
R.Jacobs b T.Baisya 3
S.Joseph c H.Sarkar b T.Baisya 0
Extras: (lb-4) 4
Total: (for seven wickets, 25 overs) 124
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-47, 3-77, 4-109, 5-110, 6-124, 7-124.
Bowling: Tapash Baisya 5-1-16-4, Mushfiqur Rahman 5-0-24-1, Khaled Mahmud 5-0-31-1, Mohammad Rafique 5-1-21-0, Manjural Islam 5-0-28-1.
BANGLADESH
H.Sarkar c Smith b Bradshaw 36
M.Ashraful c Smith b Edwards 0
H.Bashar c Jacobs b Edwards 2
R.Saleh c Gayle b Bradshaw 1
A.Kapali c Jacobs b Best 1
M.Rahman c Sarwan b Bravo 8
M.Islam not out 33
K.Mahmud c Best b Bradshaw 1
K.Mashud b Bravo 9
M.Rafique not out 4
Extras: (lb-3, w-3) 6
Total: (for eight wickets, 25 overs) 101
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-10, 3-20, 4-21, 5-39, 6-71, 7-78, 8-95.