Tigers roar back to level series

Powered by half-centuries from Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, which was backed up by an excellent final over from Nazmul Islam, Bangladesh won the second T20I against the West Indies by 12 runs yesterday to tie the three-match series at one apiece ahead of the decider in Fort Lauderhill today.

Tamim was named player-of-the-match for his 44-ball 77 which was powered by six fours and two sixes in Bangladesh's score of 171 for five. Shakib hit a 38-ball 60, but as valuable were his bowling figures of two for 19 and the spin combination the skipper struck with Nazmul as their combined eight overs cost just 47 runs and yielded five wickets.

West Indies were left needing 15 off the last over, which was bowled to perfection as Nazmul conceded only two runs while picking up two wickets, giving the batsmen no chance. West Indies ended their chase on 159 for nine.

Andre Fletcher had set the tone for the hosts with his 38-ball 43 after seeing his opening partner Evin Lewis's (1 off 3 balls) misery continue. Andre Russel (17 off 10), Denesh Ramdin (5 off 11) and Marlon Samuels (10 off 3) all failed to fire, leaving the home side at 58 for four after 7.1 overs.

However, the dangerous Rovman Powell, whose heroic 41-ball 77 in the third ODI had gone in vain, was determined to not be denied again. He racked up 43 runs off just 34 balls with three fours and two sixes before being done in by Mustafizur Rahman off the third ball of the penultimate over.

However, Nurse picked up where Powell had left off, hitting Mustafizur's final two balls for a four and six after Keemo Paul had taken a single. The Fizz finished as the most expensive of Bangladesh's bowlers, trading 50 runs for the three wickets of Lewis, Russell and Powell.

However, Nurse and Paul were almost powerless in the final over. Paul managed a single off the second ball and off the third, Nurse was caught in the deep by Ariful Haque. Nazmul then bowled another dot before Paul was bowled trying to heave into the stands.

That brilliant over saw Nazmul finishing with the sublime if somewhat flattering figures of three wickets for 28 runs in his four overs.

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal opened the innings alongside Liton Das after Bangladesh were sent in to bat by the hosts and the left-hander, who was dismissed for a duck in the first T20I, rediscovered his rhythm with a stroke-filled innings.

His partner departed cheaply for only one run and Mushfiqur Rahim, who came in next, did not last much longer. Poor shot selection caused his downfall for a run-a-ball four as he was caught off a reverse sweep to a ball that started well outside off stump as Bangladesh stumbled to 24 for two inside four overs.

Soumya Sarkar added 14 runs off 18 balls and departed to a familiar foe -- lack of feet movement. That set the stage for Shakib and Tamim's vital partnership of 90 runs in just 8.2 overs that took Bangladesh to 138 at the end of the 16th over. Before that, Tamim reached his sixth T20I fifty off his 35th ball in the 15th over.

Tamim departed off the last ball of the next over, but not before taking Andre Russel for 22 runs in the five previous balls, hitting the paceman for three sixes and a four.

Shakib -- who hit nine fours and a six in his first T20I fifty since March 2016 -- and Mahmudullah Riyad, who was unbeaten for a 10-ball 13, then did some good work to add 33 runs in the final four overs.

Ashley Nurse and Keemo Paul took two wickets each for the home side.