West Indies register biggest win to secure first-ever T20I series win over Bangladesh

The Bangladesh women’s cricket team is in the Caribbean for their first-ever bilateral series against the West Indies. Just days after clinching the One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1 in a decider, the hosts have also dominated the Twenty20 International (T20I) series, securing it in emphatic fashion.

In the opening T20I, Nigar Sultana Joty showcased her composure with a well-crafted fifty, leading Bangladesh to post a competitive total of 144. In response, Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin led the charge for the West Indies. Dottin smashed a record-breaking fifty, finishing unbeaten on 51 off just 22 balls, while Matthews anchored the innings with 60 off 54 deliveries, securing an 8-wicket win in just 16.5 overs.

In the must-win second T20I, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first. Windies openers Qiana Joseph and Hayley Matthews launched an aggressive assault on the Bangladesh bowlers, maintaining a brisk scoring rate of around 10 runs per over. The duo shared a 53-run opening partnership before Matthews was dismissed for a quickfire 27 (18). Joseph continued her onslaught, while Shemaine Campbelle (11 off 10) had a short stint at the crease. Her departure brought Deandra Dottin to the middle.

Dottin picked up right where she left off in the previous game, striking three sixes in the first five balls she faced. In the next over, Joseph brought up her fifty off 26 balls, in her characteristic aggressive style, hitting a maximum. With their total crossing 100 at the halfway mark, the West Indies were in control. Bangladesh finally broke through in the 13th over, when Rabeya Khan dismissed the well-set Joseph for 62 off 36 balls, ending their 63-run partnership.

Dottin appeared poised to break her own record for the fastest fifty in a second consecutive outing, but it wasn’t to be as she was dismissed for 49 (20), with Shorna Akter providing the fourth breakthrough. With 160 on the board and five overs remaining, Jannillea Glasgow managed a run-a-ball 14. However, it was Shabika Gajnabi’s late blitz—an unbeaten 24 off 12 balls—that propelled the West Indies to a total of 201/6, their second highest in T20Is. For Bangladesh, Fahima Khatun bagged three wickets, while Rabeya claimed two, and Shorna added one.

Bangladesh in reply got off to the worst possible start, losing their top order during the powerplay, being reduced to 24/3 in just 3.1 overs. Nigar Sultana Joty joined Sharmin Akter, and the pair steadied the innings, forming a cautious recovery partnership. However, their stand was short-lived, adding only 28 runs before Joty was dismissed for 10 (19), with the score at 52 in the 10th over.

Sharmin Akter’s resistance ended at 22 (25), as she departed with the score at 59, and Khatun followed her back to the pavilion soon after. Shorna Akter (16) and Lata Mondol (13*) shared a brief partnership, but Bangladesh was ultimately restricted to 95/9 after 20 overs. Hayley Matthews, Cherry-Ann Fraser, and Afy Fletcher each took two wickets, while Ashmini Munisar claimed one. This marked the West Indies’ biggest-ever T20I victory, by 106 runs, and secured them their first-ever T20I series against Bangladesh 2-0 with a game still to play.