Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team clinched the three-match One Day International (ODI) series 2-1 against the West Indies defeating the Caribbeans by 179 runs in the third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur on Thursday.
After 19 months, Bangladesh won an ODI series. Earlier, Bangladesh clinched the ODI series against Sri Lanka at the home ground in March of 2024.
Electing to bat first, the Tigers piled up a mammoth total of 296 for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then bundled out the tourists for 117 runs in 30.1 overs.
Bangladesh had a formidable start with two openers Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar put on together 176 runs in the opening stand before Saif Hassan was caught at the long-on by Justin Greaves off Roston Chase.
It is the highest record partnership for Bangladesh in the opening partnership.
Saif Hassan hit a superb 80. His 72-ball innings was decorated with six sixes and six fours.
After Saif’s departure, Soumya Sarkar could not stay at the crease for a long period as he was caught at the deep midwicket by Ackeem Auguste off Akeal Hosein when the hosts’ score was 181 for the loss of two wickets.
Somya Sarkar notched up a terrific 91. His 86-ball knock was belted with seven fours and two sixes. Soumya Sarkar was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Rishad Hossain was adjudged the Player of the Series. He captured altogether 12 wickets in three ODIs giving only 68 runs.
After Soumya’s departure, one-down Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto contribute together exact 50 runs for the third wicket partnership before Hridoy (28) was caught at the deep midwicket by Sherfane Rutherford off Alick Athanaze when the home side’s total was 231 for the loss of three wickets.
Najmul Hossain Shanto was caught & bowled by Athanaze when Bangladesh’s score was 252 for the loss of four wickets.
Later, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Rishad Hossain added together 35 runs in the eight-wicket stand before Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
Akeal Hosein of West Indies was the most successful bowler of his team with four wickets in the space of 41 runs. After that the Bangladeshi bowlers dominated the West Indies’ batters.
The tourists failed to make any resistance against superb spin bowling attack of the Tigers.
Akeal Hossain was the only Caribbean batter, who scored a modest 27.
Nasum Ahmed and Rishad Hossain grabbed three wickets each instead of 11 and 54 runs respectively.
Tanvir Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged a couple of wickets each in lieu of 16 and 35 runs respectively.
