In a stunning display of batting prowess, Sherfane Rutherford’s fiery 113 off 80 balls helped the West Indies break a decade-long winless streak against Bangladesh in One Day Internationals. The West Indies successfully pursued a target of 294 runs, achieving a remarkable victory with 14 balls remaining, thus taking an early 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Rutherford's explosive innings, along with Shai Hope’s steady 86, were the cornerstone of a remarkable chase at Warner Park, St Kitts.

West Indies Stumbles Early, but Rutherford and Hope Reignite Hope

West Indies faced an uphill battle as they started their chase of 294. At 130 for 3 after 30 overs, the team was in a precarious position. Early struggles were evident, with Rutherford beginning cautiously, managing only 19 runs off 29 balls. Shai Hope, however, provided stability at the other end, contributing a composed 67 runs with Keacy Carty. But when Carty fell cheaply, the pressure mounted further.

Despite the mounting required run rate, Hope reached his 26th ODI fifty, but it was clear that West Indies needed to pick up the pace. Hope's aggression came to the fore when he cleared the boundary against Mehidy Hasan Miraz, signaling the beginning of Rutherford’s rampage. The momentum began to shift in favor of the West Indies as Rutherford’s aggressive stroke play took over the game.

Rutherford's Blazing Century Sets West Indies on Course for Victory

After a slow start, Rutherford exploded into action from the 32nd over, hitting Miraz for a boundary and then clearing the fence for a six. His aggressive batting picked up steam as he brought up his half-century off just 48 balls. With Hope’s solid 86 in the bag, Rutherford continued his assault, bringing up his second fifty in just 29 balls, including two sixes off Taskin Ahmed.

Rutherford's first ODI century came in the 47th over when he belted two sixes off Soumya Sarkar. His 113-run knock came to an end shortly afterward, but with only six more runs required and 3.2 overs remaining, the West Indies cruised to victory. Justin Greaves, with an unbeaten 41, sealed the chase and helped West Indies finish with 14 balls to spare.

Bangladesh's Strong Start Fades as West Indies Dominate the Chase

Bangladesh had a strong start, opting to bat first and posting a challenging total of 294. Tanzid Hasan played a key role, scoring a quick-fire 60 off 60 balls. Soumya Sarkar added a useful 19 before Litton Das was dismissed early. Tanzid and Miraz then combined for a crucial 79-run partnership for the third wicket, with Miraz anchoring the innings. Miraz’s steady 74 off 101 balls helped Bangladesh recover after a slight wobble.

However, once Miraz fell in the 38th over, Bangladesh’s momentum slowed. Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali responded with a late surge, putting on a partnership of 96 runs in just 12.3 overs. The duo struck six sixes between them, with Mahmudullah finishing unbeaten on 50 off 44 balls. Jaker Ali contributed 48 off the penultimate ball, but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent Bangladesh from falling short. West Indies sealed the win with 14 balls to spare.

West Indies' Aggressive Chase Proves Too Much for Bangladesh

Although Bangladesh had set a solid foundation with the bat, the West Indies’ aggressive chase led by Rutherford and Hope was simply too overwhelming. Despite the late surge from Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali, Bangladesh could not defend their total against a relentless West Indies attack. The victory marked a historic turnaround for the West Indies, and with the series now at 1-0, the next two games promise to be a thrilling conclusion to the series.

Rutherford’s explosive century, combined with the steady contributions from Hope, ultimately led the West Indies to victory in a match that was a perfect display of chasing down big totals with flair and aggression. Bangladesh will be left to reflect on missed opportunities and the inability to defend a challenging total against a team that is finally firing on all cylinders.