Bangladesh team celebrating their victory crushing eight-wicket win over West Indies in the series-deciding third game on Friday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. -AA
Ruthless Bangladesh sealed the three-match ODI series by 2-1, securing a crushing eight-wicket win over West Indies in the series-deciding third game on Friday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraj engineered the victory with his career best 4-29, trumping the back-to-back century of Shai Hope, who was cut above the rest of the West Indies batsmen with more than 50 percent of his side's total. Tigers however clinched their third straight ODI series this year by virtue of this victory.
West Indies collapsed around Hope's century, who carried the bat throughout the innings for his fourth ton to steer the side to 198-9. Bangladesh made it one-way traffic as opener Tamim Iqbal struck 81 not out and Soumya Sarkar smashed 80 to send the side winning reply of 199, making 202-2 in just 38.3 overs.
Hope who followed his career best 146 not out to single-handedly drive the side to five-wicket victory in second game, was the only shining spot with 131 ball-108 not out, hitting nine fours and one six.
The next best was Marlon Samuels' 19 and 16 runs came from sundries. Only four batsmen, including those two could reach double digit figure in the do-or-die clash as they were eying to seal their first ever bilateral series since their victory against Bangladesh at home in 2014.
Mehidy proved skipper Mashrafe Mortaza's decision to bowl first right in the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, which made its ODI debut with the match, giving the breakthrough in just fourth over with the wicket of Chandrapaul Hemraj.Hemraj cut a delivery, that kept low, to point for 9 but it appeared West Indies take control through Hope and Darren Bravo (10).
Mehidy again broke through, dismissing Bravo, when the partnership was growing with confidence.
Bangladesh bowlers remained disciplined on sluggish wicket, stemming the run flow albeit Hope seemed to play on a different wicket.
However paceman Mohammad Saiffudin rattled the stump of Samuels (19) with an off-cutter before Mehidy dealt a double blow, dismissing Shimron Hetmyer (0) for sixth time in the series in seven innings and Rovman Powell (1), leaving West Indies at 99-5.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (2-40) and skipper Mashrafe Mortaza (2-34) who potentially played his last home match, strangled West Indies. Mashrafe who is just playing ODI format hinted at retirement after the 2019 World Cup and no ODI matches of Bangladesh are scheduled at home before the showpiece event.
Hope cleared long-off even in a mistimed shot for his back-to-back century off 121 balls but Mortaza and Shakib denied his side going past 200.
Bangladesh was never in trouble in pursuit of the total as Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das gave the side a solid start before the latter perished to a loose shot for 19.West Indies' problem compounded when its fast bowler Kemar Roach left the field with hamstring injury while wicket-keeper Shai Hope was replaced by Shimron Hetmyer after a blow on his shoulder.
But Tamim and Soumya combined for a 131-run to lay a platform of comprehensive victory. Fast bowler Keemo Paul took the wicket of Soumya after he clobbered five fours and as many sixes in his 81 ball-80 with Bangladesh 23 runs away from the victory.
Tamim completed the inevitable, aided by Mushfiqur Rahim (16 not out), with two successive boundaries through third man and short third man.Tigers skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza hailed his team mate to come back from behind and clinch the series.
''It was a good match, Hope played an excellent innings. Today was also a good match and toss pretty much was an advantage. Our bowlers have been very good. Spinners have been tight and pacers also stuck to the plans.
Mushy batted so well, Shakib batted and bowled well and Soumya also doing well. Overall, it's going alright for us.Windies are the World champions in T20Is and it won't be easy, hopefully our boys will do well against them,'' said Masharfee.
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