Bangladesh women鈥檚 cricket team suffered an eight-wicket drubbing against West Indies in the first of their three-match T20I series at the Warner Park in St Kitts on Monday.
Bangladesh missed the golden opportunity to qualify directly for the ICC Cricket World Cup, following a disappointing 2-1 ODI series loss.
Nigar Sultana Joty鈥檚 team aimed to recover in the shorter format, but they could not withstand the strong performance of the home side.
Bangladesh, electing to bat first, posted 144-3, their highest total against the West Indies in T20s.
However, Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin struck fifties to make the target look mediocre, chasing it down with 19 balls to spare.
It was the highest match aggregate, 289 runs, combined by Bangladesh and West Indies women鈥檚 teams in T20Is.
Bangladesh were in good shape until Dottin entered the crease and accelerated their innings by smashing a 22-ball 51 to outplay Bangladesh鈥檚 bowling effort.
鈥業 think it made a huge difference when Dottin came to the crease and started smashing sixes all over the ground. Things were going well by the 10-over mark. Then she stepped in and showcased her character,鈥� said Joty in the post-match conference.
Earlier, openers Dilara Akter and Sobhana Mostary made promising starts but failed to convert that into a big score.
Then Joty and Sharmin Akter added an 82-run partnership and laid a strong foundation. Joty struck an unbeaten 40 off 53 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, and Sharmin made 37 while Mostary contributed聽22.
In reply, Qiana Joseph and Matthews gave a solid start for the hosts, forming a 63-run partnership for the opening stand, with Joseph falling for 29 runs.
Deandra Dottin entered the fray at number four and took charge with Matthews. The right-hander went on a six-hitting spree, reaching her fifty in just 21 balls鈥攖he fastest by any West Indies player.
Her destructive knock included seven sixes, and skipper Mathews scored 60 in 54 deliveries to propel the side to victory.
Fahima Khatun (2-15) was the only bowler to grab the wickets.
The second match of the series is scheduled on January 30.