Lendl Simmons smashed a maiden century to set up the West Indies’ comfortable 40-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening one-day international on Thursday. The opener, 26, hit two sixes and eight fours in his 124-ball 122 as the West Indies posted 298-4 before restricting Bangladesh to 258-7 for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Shakib Al Hasan (67 not out) and opener Naeem Islam (52) scored half-centuries, but Bangladesh never looked like achieving a stiff target in the day-night match. West Indies pacemen Ravi Rampaul and Andre Russell, and off-spinner Marlon Samuels bagged two wickets apiece.
Simmons earlier propped up the innings after the tourists had been put in bat as he put on 67 runs with Adrian Barath, who retired after making 21, and 150 with in-form Samuels (71). Simmons, who had scored six half-centuries in his last nine one-day internationals before this match, completed his hundred in the 37th over with a single to mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Shakib. His best came in the 40th over when he hit seamer Shafiul Islam for four boundaries before being caught by Alok Kapali off paceman Rubel Hossian in the 42nd over. Samuels also fell in the same over after hitting two sixes and six fours in his 78-ball knock, but not before setting the stage for the closing-overs onslaught with Simmons.
