‘We didn’t stop the music’ says Grenada government following Windies ODI victory
ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada, Aug 26, CMC – The Grenada government on Tuesday distanced itself from a decision to stop the post game party after the second One-Day International (ODI) match between West Indies and Bangladesh at the national stadium last Friday.
Economic Development Minister Oliver Joseph says his government was not responsible for turning off the music in the party stand after Bangladesh crashed to a 177 run defeat two hours before the game was scheduled to end.
The Keith Mitchell administration has been criticized by sections of the public including callers to talk shows for stopping the music.
“You will recall that the match ended about three pm and the music was going on in the posse stand and it was just stopped all of a sudden,” Joseph told a news conference here on Tuesday.
“I want to make it very clear that this was beyond the control of the government. West Indies cricket board makes that decision and they sent instructions out that the music should be stopped”.
Bangladesh were bundled out for a disappointing 77 in a feeble attempt to chase down the 248 run target set by West Indies.
Bangladesh’s final seven wickets fell for just 13 runs amid a carnival atmosphere at the national stadium.
“So a lot of people were angry with us for stopping the music because the vendors were still selling their drinks and people were enjoying themselves and having fun,” said Joseph.
“I too was disappointed when the music was stopped.The West Indies cricket board really had control over that aspect”.
Meantime West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is reported to be pleased with the large turnout of spectators for the game, weeks after officials lamented the poor attendance for the opening matches of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in Grenada.
“We were indeed delighted with the turn out,” said Joseph.
“The report from the board of directors of the West Indies Cricket board is that they were extremely pleased”.
The National stadium in Grenada will host a test match between West Indies and England in April next year.
IMAGE: GRENADA CRICKET FANS.
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Related story:
West Indies complete a clean sweep of Bangladesh
Denesh Ramdin hit a memorable 169 off 121 balls and Darren Bravo struck 124 as the West Indies powered to a 3-0 series sweep of Bangladesh with a 91-run win in the third and final one-day international this afternoon.
Wicket-keeper Ramdin slammed eight fours and 11 sixes at Warner Park and shared a record-breaking third-wicket stand of 258 with left-hander Bravo as the West Indies finished with 338-7 off 50 overs.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (72) and Tamim Iqbal (55) led the reply, but the tourists were never realistically in with a chance and ended could only reach 247-8.
Seam bowler Ravi Rampaul was impressive for the Caribbean side, taking 4-29 from 10 overs.
Al-Amin Hossain took 4-59 for the visitors.
Bravo and Ramdin dominated the first innings after coming together with the hosts in trouble at 12-2 in the fifth over.
Bangladesh was on top when Mashrafe Mortaza dismissed Lendl Simmons (6) and Al-Amin removed the dangerous Chris Gayle (6), but the visitors rued a missed stumping by Mushfiqur Rahim off Abdur Razzak’s left-arm spin when Bravo was on 10.
The pair of Trinidadians went on to gradually rebuild the West Indies innings, before opening up and smashing Bangladesh to all parts of the small ground.
The 29-year-old Ramdin was the first to reach his century, off 90 deliveries. It was the right-hander’s second one-day century.
The West Indies, after sitting on 88-2 after 21 overs, powered 250 runs from the last 29 overs.
Bravo, who earlier passed 2,000 ODI runs, brought up his second one-day100 a few overs later off 112 balls. The 25-year-old hit seven fours and eight sixes in his career-best.
Their stand broke a host of records, eventually being the best ever partnership for the West Indies in one-day internationals.
The Bangladesh chase stuttered to 2-2 in the second over when Jason Holder and Rampaul removed Anamul Haque and Imrul Kayes cheaply.
Left-hander Tamim and skipper Mushfiqur shared a third-wicket stand of 99 to lift Bangladesh’s flickering hopes, but Sunil Narine bowled Tamim and Rampaul returned to claim
Mushfiqur as the chase petered out.
The teams meet in a one-off Twenty20 international at the same venue on Thursday.
IMAGE: Sulieman Benn of the West Indies celebrates with Denesh Ramdin (Source: AP)
For more on this story go to: http://tvnz.co.nz/cricket-news/west-indies-complete-clean-sweep-bangladesh-6064747