The series-deciding 3rd ODI match will be held in Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday (December 14) as the hosts won the opening match by five wickets on Sunday last at the same venue.
Sent in to bat first, Bangladesh posted a moderate total of 255 for 7 as Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim hit fifties. Mushfiqur struck fifty in successive two matches of the ongoing series.
West Indies successfully chased down the total scoring 256 runs for 6 in 49.4 overs in the wicket which looked slightly better for the batsmen.
A 25-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper batsman from Barbados, Shai Hope was adjudged man of the match for his match-winning knock of 146 off 144 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. It was his third ton in One-day Internationals.
West Indies needed 67 runs in the last 10 overs with four wickets in hand. They were on the right track while taking 29 runs without losing any wicket. In the last five overs, they needed 38 runs. Mustafizur Rahman gave 16 runs away in the 48th over which made Bangladesh’s escape nearly impossible. And eventually, the visiting team managed to win a game in the series with two balls to play.
The visitors did not have an ideal start while replying to Bangladesh’s 255 as they lost the first wicket in the second over of their innings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz drew the first blood as he trapped Chandrapaul Hemraj, who replaced Keiran Powell in the match, with a non-turning delivery.
The Caribbean boys controlled the initial damage with a great care as they added 65 runs in the second wicket stand comprising Shai Hope and Darren Bravo. While Hope maintained his good start, Bravo managed only 27. He fell prey to a wonderful delivery of Rubel Hossain. The right-arm pacer came round the wicket and displayed a shattered off-stump to Bravo.
West Indies were courageous enough to fight back as they added another 62 runs at the third wicket stand. Shai Hope received accompany of veteran Marlon Samuels. They were pushing the visitors ahead with a combative effort.
But, Mustafizur Rahman, the left-arm pacer, did the job for the hosts removing well-set Samuels. His slow off-cutter went to Mushfiqur Rahim touching the bat of Samuels and he is never a guy to miss this. After Samuels’ dismissal, West Indies looked morally down to chase the target.
They lost the fourth and fifth wickets in a span of two runs. While Shimron Hetmyer fell to Rubel Hossain by a super catch of substitute fielder Nazmul Islam Apu, Rovman Powell was the prey of his opposite counterpart Mashrafe.
Despite the dismal shows from the other end of the wicket, Shai Hope was there in the middle as West Indies’ last hope. And he finally, made a perfect example of a great finish.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 255 for seven on the board. Tamim, Mushfiqur and Shakib hit the fifties for the Tigers. While Tamim fell for 50, Mushfiq and Shakib ended with 62 and 65 respectively. Both made a 111-run stand at the third wicket which was the main pillar of Bangladesh’s innings.
Bangladesh lower-middle-order failed to utilise the foundation that made by Tamim, Mushfiq and Shakib. And thus, they disappointed the fans to set a bigger target for West Indies. At the end of the match, this proved to be the bigger regret of Bangladesh.