West Indies beat Bangladesh by 16 runs in T20I series opener

Chattogram, 28 October 2025:

Captain Shai Hope and Rovman Powell powered West Indies to a 16-run victory over Bangladesh in the first T20 International on Sunday, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Hope and Powell, marking his 100th T20I appearance, combined for an unbroken 83-run stand that lifted West Indies to 165 for 3 after a slow start. Hope finished unbeaten on 46 off 28 balls with four sixes, while Powell struck 44 not out off 28 balls, also hitting four sixes and a four. The pair’s late acceleration, 51 runs coming in the last three overs, turned what looked a modest total into a winning one.

Bangladesh’s chase fell apart early, crashing to 42 for four inside the powerplay as Akeal Hosein (2 wickets) struck twice and Jason Holder removed Shamim Hossain. Jayden Seales and Holder took three wickets each to wrap up the hosts for 149 in 19.4 overs.

Bangladesh’s bright moments came through Nasum Ahmed’s miserly spell of 0 for 15 in four overs and Tanzim Hasan’s late counterattack of 33 off 27 balls, which included a six and three fours. But the early collapse proved too steep to recover from.

Brandon King and Alick Athanaze gave West Indies a steady start before Taskin Ahmed’s double strike, while Hope and Powell’s late hitting against Taskin, Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim changed the game’s momentum.

Holder’s three for 31 and Seales’ 3 for 32 ensured West Indies closed out the win despite a brief lower-order resistance. The teams will meet again in the second T20I at the same venue on Tuesday.