Bangladesh wins first ODI series after 19 months

Having won the game, Bangladesh clinched an ODI series after March, 2024, 
quelling the fear of losing its record fifth straight series in a format, once dubbed as their strongest suit.

The fear of defeat came to the fore, once West Indies won the Super Over in the second game to level the series in a spin-favourable pitch that gave Bangladesh spinners more advantage than the West Indies.

With the series on the line, at the same pitch, Bangladesh batters applied them impeccably to post a daunting 296-8 but knew that they squandered a golden chance to reach anything close to 350-run mark after a record-breaking start from their openers.

However, at the end that matter little as Bangladesh spinners spun West Indies batters terribly to wrap up the visitors for 117 in 30.1 overs, earning the side a biggest ever victory against the Caribbean.

The margin of victory also Bangladesh's second largest victory behind 183-run 
win against Ireland in 2023.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain capped a successful series with 3-54, taking his wicket-tally to 12, highest by a Bangladeshi spinner in an ODI series, and also second highest by a Bangladesh bowler behind pacer Mustafizur Rahman's 13 against India in 2015.

Nasum Ahmed also snapped 3-11 while Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanvir 
Islam picked up two wickets apiece as Bangladesh spinners took all 10 wickets. 

Such was the domination of the spinners that lone pacer Mustafizur Rahman was left unused.

Nasum ripped through West Indies top order in a manic four overs that saw him took three wickets, leaving West Indies 35-3 in ninth over.

From there on, there were no look back for Bangladesh.

No West Indies batters, apart from Akeal Hosain, even could cross 20-run mark. Akeal, the No.10 batter took some blind hit to make 15 ball-27 with four fours and one six.

Earlier, the Bangladesh openers paved the platform of the massive victory. Soumya Sarkar and Saif Hassan batted resolutely to help Bangladesh amass a total, that looked out of West Indies' reach.

But after the kind of start they got, the total looked not justified. 

Soumya struck 86 ball-91 with seven fours and four sixes while Saif who registered his maiden fifty was finally dismissed on 80 after playing 72 balls and smashing six fours and as many sixes.

They put on a 176 off just 152 balls in their opening stand, the second highest in this stand and highest at Mirpur venue after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and opted to bat first.

Since their partnership, Bangladesh scored just 120 off remaining 148 deliveries losing eight wickets. 

Akeal Hosain who scripted West Indies' breathtaking Super Over victory in the second game to level the series once again tormented Bangladesh by claiming his career-best 4-41. He was ably supported by Alick Athanaze's 2-37.

But they were largely neutralized when Soumya and Saif were batting in a pitch that appeared to be better than the previous two matches with the bounce appearing to be even. 

Both Saif and Soumya played their shots at will to make the bowlers disarray right from the start.

Saif's maiden fifty came in style off just 44 balls as he smashed Gudakesh Motie a boundary through fine leg.

He looked well set to earn his maiden century also but a miss hit against Roston Chase cost his wicket finally.

That looked to distract Soumya as he also perished to a big shot, giving Akeal his first wicket in the match.

West Indies bowlers then strangled Bangladesh despite the resistance from Najmul Hossain Shanto who made 44. 

But Bangladesh, at the same time, were aided by West Indies' sloppy fielding.

Shanto and Towhid Hriody (28) cashed in on wayward fielding to add further 50 runs. 

But Athanze removed both of the set batters in quick succession before Akeal claimed three wickets in an over, effectively denying Bangladesh a 300-plus total, reports BSS.