|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh squandered a golden chance to inflict a tour sweep on any team for the first time in their history in a series, comprised with three formats of cricket. Standing on the brink of a history, they came up with wretched batting display to loss the series-deciding third T20 by 50 runs against West Indies in an eventful day which was hit hard by no ball controversy at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The no ball puzzle in the fourth over of their chase also seemed to have distracted their concentration after having a rampaging start as they tasted a sensational collapse to be all out for 140 in 17 overs, in replying to West Indies’ 190 in 19.2 overs.

After being whitewashed in the two-match Test series (2-0), and lost the ODI series by 2-1, West Indies finally gave their countrymen a Christmas Gift as promised by captain Carlos Brathwaite, winning the T20 series by 2-1.

Fast bowler Keemo Paul was the wrecker-in-chief with five for 15, recording a best bowling figure by a West Indian bowler in this format and he was aided by left-arm spinner Fabian Allen who claimed two for 19 in four overs.

Bangladesh made a rapid start, thanks to Liton Das, despite losing opener Tamim Iqbal to run out for 8. Liton capitalized West Indies’ bowlers’ wretched bowling to help Bangladesh propel past 50 in just four overs after which fast bowler Oshane Thomas got him with a delivery which umpire called no.

By noticing Thomas’s foot on the line in the giant screen placed at the ground, West Indies led by Carlos Brathwaite protested the decision immediately and game was stopped for some 15 minutes. West Indies sought a review, only to be denied by the law of ICC, which didn’t keep any clause of review in case of line decisions. However the match referee Jeff Crowe intervened and calmed down all.

The no ball stood but it fuelled West Indies to such extent that they hit back with three wickets for one run in nine balls with Allen and Paul at the fore. Allen got Soumya Sarkar (9) and Shakib Al Hasan for duck in consecutive deliveries before Paul started his party, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim (1) with a slower.

From 56 for one before the no ball controversy, Bangladesh were 66 for four in not time.

Paul then ran though the Bangladesh batting line up, varying his pace well to leave Bangladesh 96 for eight and became only second West Indies bowler to take five-for in T20 cricket after former skipper Darren Sammy (5-26) against Zimbabwe in 2010.

Mehidy Hasan Miraj (19) and Abu Haider (22 not out) took Bangladesh past 100 runs to save the face at least.

However Bangladesh bowlers bowled extremely well half-way through the innings to deny West Indies going past 200 after Shakib Al Hasan opted to bowl first as his side was seeking a victory against West Indies in all format of the cricket.