Bangladesh ease to victory over Barbados

Bangladesh 166 for 5 (Kayes 57) beat Barbados 130 for 3 (Hinds 50*) by 36 runs
Scorecard

Imrul Kayes provided the anchor and Mohammad Ashraful the impetus, as Bangladesh warmed up for Saturday's World Twenty20 encounter with the champions Pakistan by easing to a comfortable 36-run victory over Barbados at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

With Tamim Iqbal missing due to a hand injury, Ashraful was promoted to open alongside Kayes, having missed the recent visit of England due to a loss of form. He responded with a pugnacious 35 from 12 deliveries, as Bangladesh rushed along to 166 for 5 in their 20 overs, after being asked to bat first.

Ashraful was the first to fall in the ninth over, with the score on 64, when he was caught by Alcindo Holder off Carlos Brathwaite, but Kayes pushed along to a measured 57 from 59 balls, with Aftab Ahmed (26 from 20) providing powerful support in a second-wicket stand of 53 in 34 deliveries.

In reply, Barbados lost their first wicket after four balls, which Rashidi Boucher edged to Ashraful at slip, to give Mashrafe Mortaza - another man who played little part in the England series - a wicket. From that point on, Barbados never seriously threatened to chase down their target, although Bangladesh's bowlers found breakthroughs hard to come by. The captain, Hinds, produced a 48-ball half-century, before Jonathan Carter's 30-ball 45 not out enlivened the closing overs. But the result was never in doubt.