Fans erupt as West Indies level series against Bangladesh after dramatic Super Over finish during 2nd ODI in Mirpur

By
admin
-
0
1

Table of Contents

In a gripping contest that swung until the very last ball, West Indies edged Bangladesh in a nerve-wracking Super Over to level the three-match ODI series 1-1 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Both teams finished on 214 runs after 100 overs of intense cricket before Akeal Hosein’s nerve and accuracy sealed victory for the visitors in the one-over eliminator.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s Saif Hassan had almost snatched victory by conceding just four runs in the final over of regulation play, forcing the match into a tiebreaker. The day was filled with tactical brilliance as West Indies bowled all 50 overs of spin, a first in men’s ODI history, on a dry, turning Dhaka surface. Gudakesh Motie’s three-wicket haul, alongside a miserly ten-over spell from Alick Athanaze, kept Bangladesh to a modest total before captain Shai Hope’s unbeaten 53 guided the Windies to the brink of victory. But it took the calmness of Hosein under pressure in the Super Over to deliver a famous Caribbean comeback and keep the series alive.

West Indies’ all-spin strategy puzzles Bangladesh as Gudakesh Motie and Alick Athanaze shine

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh endured a shaky start as the West Indian spin quartet, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Athanaze and Kevin Sinclair, shared the new ball and kept the batters guessing from the outset. The hosts stumbled to 96/4, with early wickets courtesy of Motie’s sharp drift and Athanaze’s tight off-breaks.

Openers Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar showed brief resistance, but the spinners’ relentless accuracy strangled the scoring rate. Sarkar’s dismissal for a 45-run knock, laced with three boundaries and a six, triggered another collapse as Bangladesh lost momentum. The middle order offered flashes of recovery through Mehidy Hasan Miraz (32)* and Nurul Hasan, who tried to rotate strike amid dot-ball pressure. However, it was Rishad Hossain’s counterattacking cameo that lifted the innings from 163/7 to 214.

Rishad’s unbeaten 39 off just 14 deliveries, featuring three sixes and three fours, stunned the Windies and gave the crowd reason to cheer. His late fireworks ensured Bangladesh reached a defendable total despite being dominated for most of their innings. Motie emerged as the pick of the bowlers with 3/65 in 10 overs, while Athanaze’s spell of 2/14 with three maidens was arguably the most impactful, showing his growing stature as an all-rounder.

Shai Hope’s grit and Akeal Hosein’s calm seal a thrilling West Indies triumph in Super Over

The chase began disastrously for West Indies, losing Brandon King for a first-ball duck to Nasum Ahmed, setting the tone for a tense pursuit. But Athanaze and Carty rebuilt steadily with a disciplined 51-run partnership for the second wicket, neutralizing the early spin threat. Rishad Hossain, however, turned the tide once again with his double strike, removing Athanaze (28) and later trapping Carty (35) lbw to leave the visitors reeling. The scoreboard pressure mounted as wickets fell in clusters, Ackeem Auguste, Rovman Powell and Kevin Sinclair all departed cheaply, and from 82/2, the Windies were suddenly 133/7.

But captain Hope, known for his composure in pressure situations, stitched a vital stand of 44 runs with Justin Greaves (26) to drag his team back into contention. Even after Greaves’ unfortunate run-out via Mehidy’s direct hit, Hope anchored the innings with an unbeaten 67-ball 53, hitting four crisp boundaries. With 11 required off the last over, Saif Hassan bowled magnificently to tie the game, conceding just four runs and forcing the Super Over. Hope then scored seven off Mustafizur Rahman’s over to set Bangladesh a target of 11, but  Hosein’s clinical accuracy and changes in pace denied the hosts, as they managed just 10 in reply. The result marked a stunning turnaround for West Indies, one built on strategy, resilience, and the composure of their spin brigade in Dhaka’s cauldron.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR