MIRPUR, Bangladesh – The West Indies produced yet another abysmal performance with the bat to gift Bangladesh a mammoth 179-run victory in the third and decisive One Day International, which helped them to claim the series here on Thursday.
Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (second right) accepts the winners’ trophy after they defeated the West Indies in the third and final ODI.On a pitch that batters struggled to score on in the first two ODIs, Bangladesh’s openers Soumya Sarkar and Saif Hassan scored impressive half centuries to lead their side to a formidable 296 for eight at the Shere Bangla National Stadium after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
In their run chase, only Akeal Hosein batting at number 10 scored more than 20, while spinners Nasum Ahmed and Rishad Hossain took three wickets apiece, to see the West Indies being spun out for a paltry 117 in 30.1 overs
The result was Bangladesh’s second largest win in ODIs batting first, largest against the West Indies, and propeled them to a 2-1 series win, their first bilateral ODI series victory in 17 months.
It was set up by a splendid opening partnership between Sarkar and Hassan, who put on 176 runs in 25 overs, the second highest for the first wicket in their side’s ODI history.
They set the tone from the day’s very first over when Hassan spanked left-arm spinner Hosein for two consecutive boundaries.
Sarkar joined in the action, spanking Roston Chase for a six and four in the eighth over, which also included a maximum from Hassan, to see Bangladesh race to 60 without loss.
The West Indies and Khary Pierre thought they had claimed Hassan’s wicket in the ensuing over after he was given out lbw, but the review showed a clear inside edge onto the pads.
Two more boundaries from Sarkar off medium pacer Justin Greaves moved him into the 40s and he eventually brought up his 14th ODI half century off 48 balls.
Not long after Hassan reached his maiden ODI half century off just 44 balls by hitting Gudakesh Motie for a six and four, as Bangladesh moved to 109 without loss after 16 overs.
Hassan joined Sarkar in the 70s by bludgeoning Chase for a four and six off successive deliveries, and it looked as though both batters were motoring to their centuries.
However, Chase got the breakthrough the West Indies so desperately needed when he had Hassan caught at the long on boundary for a well-played 80 off 72 balls, which included six sixes and six fours.
Sarkar, who was named Player-of-the-Match, reached 91 before pulling Hosein straight into the hands of Ackeem Auguste at deep midwicket after facing 86 balls and striking seven fours and four sixes, to leave Bangladesh 181 for two in the 29th over.
The West Indies actually did well to restrict Bangladesh, thereafter, picking up five wickets for just 30 runs, with Hosein and part-time spinner Alick Athanaze doing the damage.
Hosein finished with figures of 4-41, while Athanaze took 2-37.
Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed then almost singlehandedly won the contest for his side in a devastating opening spell.
With just 16 runs on the board he trapped Athanaze lbw, accounted for Ackeem Auguste in the same fashion for a duck following a review, and then bowled Brandon King with a delivery that kept low, to see West Indies slump to 35 for three in the ninth over.
Captain Shai Hope looked uncomfortable during his stay at the crease before he mishit spinner Tanvir Islam and was easily caught at backward point for four, to leave the visitors in even more trouble at 46 for four.
All-rounder Rishad Hossain, who finished with 12 wickets and was named Player-of-the-Series, then claimed the scalps of Sherfane Rutherford for 12 and Roston Chase without scoring, to effectively seal the result.
Hosein hit some lusty strokes in his topscore of 27 off 15 balls, before he was last out, bowled by captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz as he tried to hit him out the ground.
Ahmed led the way for Bangladesh with 3-11, Hossain claimed 3-54, Islam took 2-16 and Miraz 2-35.
