West Indies wrapped up a 3-0 T20I series win in Chattogram, easing past Bangladesh by five wickets with 19 balls unused. Acting skipper Roston Chase watched Ackeem Auguste post a first international fifty – a measured but forceful effort that pushed the tourists home and, in Chase’s words, underlined “the sky is the limit” for the young left-hander.
Auguste, one of three changes for the dead rubber, walked in at 31 for 2 and left only once the contest was decided. Mixing tidy placement with leg-side power, he launched three sixes off Rishad Hossain in the 13th over, the second following a let-off at deep midwicket. His 91-run stand with Chase (52) erased any lingering doubt after Bangladesh’s 152 for 6 had looked just about competitive.
“I thought he had a great innings,” Chase said. “I have played with him in St. Lucia in the last couple of years. He has improved steadily. The Ackeem I used to know, would play some exciting shots and then get out for 20 or 30. I find out that he is maturing very much. He is understanding how to build the innings now. The sky is the limit for him. I think he has a very rare ability to strike the ball. He has a clean swing. He has to continue doing hard work and keep believing.”
Earlier, Bangladesh’s best passage came through a 63-run opening stand between Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan, yet only Tanzid passed 30 on a pitch Chase later called the series’ most reliable. Once Romario Shepherd prised Tanzid out for 47, wickets tumbled and momentum shifted.
“I think Bangladesh never really had a big partnership, or one partnership where two batters stood up. It was only the left-hander, while all the guys were getting out around him,” Chase said. “The plan was to bat normally, get six to seven runs per over till the 15th over. But as me and Ackeem got in on the wicket, it became easier to play our strokes. The ball was coming on to the bat. I think it was the best wicket of the three games. We capitalised on the balls in our area.”
Shepherd finished the campaign with seven wickets, a burst book-ended by a hat-trick split across two overs in this final match. That achievement even escaped his captain in real time.
“Actually I was so focused on the game that I didn’t realise he had taken the hat-trick,” Chase said. “I didn’t remember that he had taken a wicket in his previous over. I am happy for him. I think he executed well in all three games.”
There were still blemishes. Two straightforward catches went down and a misfield gifted an extra boundary. Chase knows sharper days will be needed as the side builds towards next year’s global tournament.
“We dropped too many catches. The bowlers were spot-on with their plans. I want to congratulate them on their performance.”
For now the tourists will accept an away whitewash built on collective discipline rather than flash. Auguste’s calm acceleration, Amir Jangoo’s brisk 34 on recall and regular wickets up front hinted at growing depth – welcome news with several senior players resting.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, end the series searching for middle-order heft and greater consistency with the ball. Rishad Hossain’s leg-spin again offered control but lacked incisiveness, while the seam unit managed only one powerplay breakthrough in three attempts.
Yet the evening belonged to a 22-year-old St Lucian left-hander. One innings does not make a career, but West Indies have had few rookie knocks in recent years that felt quite so ready-made for higher levels. If Auguste keeps listening to his captain’s advice, he may render those words about “the sky” less a cliché and more a simple statement of fact.
