West Indies batters 'let down the team', claims Powell

West Indies captain Rovman Powell hit out at the performance from his batting group after Bangladesh won the opening T20I on Sunday.

Bangladesh snatched a seven-run victory in Kingstown, with bowler Hasan Mahmud successfully defending just nine runs, and taking two wickets in the final over.

Mahmud's heroics with the ball came after Powell had smashed his way to 60 off just 35 deliveries to put the Windies in prime position to chase down a target of 148.

With West Indies' bowlers having limited Bangladesh to 147-6, with Akeal Hosein the standout with figures of 2-13, Powell - who was dismissed by Mahmud in the final over - pinned the defeat on his team's display with the bat.

"It is just a matter of us assessing it a little earlier. We could have consolidated a little bit more," he said.

"The only time they would be in the game was if we lost wickets in clusters, and we did that. It was a credible bowling performance. As a batting group, we let down the team."

Doing his best to will across the line. A big effort, Skip!#WIvBAN #WIHomeForChristmas pic.twitter.com/DWjfamCdQF

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 16, 2024

West Indies lost their last home T20I series to England 3-1 (November 2024), snapping a four-series winning streak at home, and Powell urged his team to swiftly get back on track.

"Great support [from the crowd], we need their support now more than ever," he added.

"Having honest conversations [about what went wrong], is needed. We have been a T20 team that has played good cricket, but in the last seven or eight games, we have lost our way."

Soumya Sarkar (43) top-scored for Bangladesh, with Jaker Ali (27), Mahedi Hasan (26 not out) and Shamim Hossain (27) the only other batters to reach double figures.

Yet, none of the Windies' top five batters managed to score above 20, and Powell ultimately finished with 38 runs more than any of his team-mates, with Romario Shepherd next-best on 22.

While Mahmud (2-18) was brilliant at the death, Mahedi Hasan was the pick of Bangladesh's bowlers, taking 4-13 as he skittled through West Indies' top order.

"We tried to bowl straight and stick to our process. I enjoyed this wicket," said Hasan, having been named Player of the Match. "I played in the Global Super League before and that gave me confidence."