Sherfane Rutherford smashed an impressive 113 off 80 balls, leading West Indies to break their 11-game losing streak against Bangladesh in ODIs and take an early lead in the three-match series. Rutherford’s maiden ODI century, alongside captain Shai Hope's steady 86, guided the hosts to comfortably chase down 294—setting a new record for the highest successful chase at Warner Park in St Kitts.
West Indies appeared in a tricky situation in their chase, reaching just 130 for 3 after 30 overs, requiring 164 more runs from 120 balls. Rutherford, initially slow and on 19 off 29, was struggling with the increasing asking rate. Hope, meanwhile, anchored the innings with a composed half-century.
Bangladesh had carried their strong bowling form from the first innings, dismissing Brandon King LBW through Tanzim Hasan Sakib and trapping Evin Lewis with a delivery from Nahid Rana. Hope’s departure in the ninth over left the West Indies at 27 for 2. However, he shared a vital 67-run partnership with Keacy Carty, before Carty's dismissal off a short ball from Rishad Hossain put West Indies further on the back foot.
As the required rate climbed past eight runs per over, Hope reached his 26th ODI fifty, but the chase needed acceleration. The breakthrough came when Hope hit Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a six, and Rutherford exploded into action in the 32nd over with a four and a six off Miraz. A flurry of boundaries followed, and Rutherford reached his half-century off just 48 balls.
The momentum shifted in West Indies' favor, and even after Hope’s dismissal for 86, Rutherford continued to accelerate, reaching his second fifty off 29 balls, with two sixes off Taskin Ahmed. He completed his century in the 47th over, hitting Soumya Sarkar for two more sixes, bringing his tally to eight. Rutherford was dismissed shortly after, but West Indies needed only six runs from 3.2 overs, which they achieved with 14 balls to spare, with Justin Greaves remaining unbeaten on 41.
Bangladesh had hoped for a more challenging chase after putting up 294/6 in their 50 overs. Opening with Tanzid Hasan (60 off 60) and Soumya Sarkar, who contributed 19, they built a solid foundation. Tanzid added 79 for the third wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (74 off 101), who anchored the innings. After Miraz’s dismissal, Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali added a quick 96 in 12.3 overs, hitting six sixes between them. Mahmudullah finished with 50 not out off 44 balls, while Jaker fell for 48, but their late surge proved insufficient.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 294/6 in 50 overs (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 74, Tanzid Hasan 60; Romario Shepherd 3-51)
West Indies 295/5 in 47.4 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 113, Shai Hope 86; Rishad Hossain 1-49)
West Indies won by five wickets
