West Indies Edge Bangladesh by 16 Runs in Thrilling T20I Opener in Chattogram

The West Indies National Cricket Team pulled off a gritty 16-run win over the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the first T20I of their 2025 tour, sealing the result with a dramatic hit wicket dismissal in the final over. The match, played on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram, ended with Bangladesh all out for 149 in 19.4 overs chasing 165. Romario Shepherd’s final ball to Taskin Ahmed — a sharp inswing that rattled the stumps — sent the home crowd into stunned silence. It was the kind of finish that reminded everyone why T20 cricket still holds its magic.

Why This Match Mattered More Than the Score

This wasn’t just another warm-up game. With the T20 World Cup just four months away, both teams were using this series to test lineups, assess form, and iron out weaknesses. West Indies had lost the preceding ODI series 2-1, their spinners overpowered and their top order inconsistent. Bangladesh, meanwhile, had won those ODIs but were still wrestling with finishing powerplays and death bowling. The pitch in Chattogram — traditionally a slow, turning surface favored by spinners — became the ultimate test. "We knew they’d come hard after the ODI loss," said Bangladesh captain Litton Das in a post-match interview. "But we didn’t expect them to come out so aggressive. Shai’s call to bat first was bold. And they stuck to it."

The Numbers That Decided the Game

West Indies posted 164/6 in their 20 overs, powered by a fiery 42 off 24 balls from Alick Athanaze and a composed 51 off 39 from Shai Hope. Their spin trio — Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, and Gudakesh Motie — combined for 5 for 42, with Hosein’s 3 for 18 in four overs being the standout. Bangladesh’s reply was built on a 61-ball 53 from Najmul Hossain Shanto, but the middle order collapsed under pressure. After 15 overs, they were 112/4 — well ahead of the required rate. Then came the collapse. Three wickets fell for just 18 runs, including the key dismissal of captain Litton Das caught at deep midwicket off Motie. The turning point? The 17th over, bowled by Shepherd. He conceded just 4 runs and picked up two wickets — including the vital one of Mushfiqur Rahim, who’d been anchoring the chase. That over shifted momentum completely.

How Fans Watched — And Why India Got Left Out

In India, where cricket is religion, there was no live broadcast on TV. No Star Sports. No Sony. Nothing. Instead, fans turned to the FanCode app — the only official digital partner for the match in the subcontinent. Meanwhile, T Sports streamed the match live on YouTube, drawing over 1.2 million concurrent viewers in Bangladesh and neighboring countries. YouTube channels like "World Fast Update" and "Cricket World" uploaded full match replays within hours, each amassing hundreds of thousands of views. "It’s frustrating," said Mumbai-based fan Arjun Mehta. "I paid for a FanCode subscription just for this. But at least I didn’t miss it. Some of my friends in Pakistan had to use VPNs to get the T Sports stream." In Pakistan, the match was available on PTV Sports and the official app. In the UK, it streamed on Sky Sports. In the US, Willow TV carried it. But in India — home to over 1.3 billion people and the largest cricket market — the match was treated like a regional event. No national TV rights. No big-ticket advertising. Just digital.

What’s Next for Both Teams

The second T20I is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at the same Chattogram venue. The third will follow two days later. West Indies will look to build on their momentum, possibly giving more chances to uncapped players like Jayden Seales and Ramon Simmonds. Bangladesh, still searching for consistency, may shuffle their bowling attack — perhaps giving a debut to young leg-spinner Nasum Ahmed. The bigger picture? Both teams need to answer one question: Can their spinners dominate in high-pressure World Cup matches? In the ODIs, spin took 17 of 21 wickets. In this T20I, it took 5 of 8. If the trend continues, the World Cup could be decided not by power-hitters, but by the bowlers who can turn the ball on slow tracks.

Historical Context: Why Chattogram Matters

The Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, often called MA Aziz Stadium, has hosted over 40 T20 matches since 2015 — nearly all in the Bangladesh Premier League. Teams here have won 68% of games chasing. That’s why Hope’s decision to bat first was so surprising. He knew the pitch would slow down. He knew the dew would make it harder to grip the ball later. He took the risk — and won. It’s the kind of tactical gamble that separates good captains from great ones.