Samuels' assault too much for Bangladesh

Mon, Dec 10, '12

est Indies won their first Twenty20 international since winning the World T20, with Marlon Samuels playing an innings reminiscent of his assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers in the final of that tournament in Colombo. He smashed nine sixes in an innings full of confidence and clinical brutality, striking the ball clean and flat to dominate a Bangladesh attack that was on a high after picking up two early wickets. His gear-shift at the death proved pivotal in the end, as Bangladesh, despite losing just a wicket in the chase, fell 18 short of their target. It is the first instance of a team losing just one wicket in a completed second innings in a Twenty20 international, and also being beaten.