Patience and Spin to Decide Series in Dhaka Thriller
The ODI series between Bangladesh and West Indies hinges on a simple yet formidable challenge: which batting lineup can best navigate the spin-friendly conditions of Dhaka.
West Indies secured a dramatic one-run Super Over victory to level the series after the second ODI ended in a tie, with both teams scoring 213. The match was dominated by spin, with a record 92 overs from slow bowlers highlighting the immense difficulty batters faced.
To their credit, West Indies have fully embraced the local conditions, demonstrated by their bold strategy of bowling 50 overs of spin in the second ODI. Part-time offspinner Alick Athanaze was their standout performer, recording exceptional figures of 2 for 14 in ten overs. While Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, and Khary Pierre also bowled effectively, the team will seek a more economical performance from Gudakesh Motie, who was expensive in the death overs.
On the batting front, captain Shai Hope anchored the innings with a half-century, but a lack of support from the middle order proved costly as several batters failed to convert promising starts. A stronger opening from Brandon King and Athanaze is crucial, while experienced players like Sherfane Rutherford and Chase must provide better support to Hope. Youngster Ackeem Auguste will be looking to impress in what could be another opportunity after a quiet debut.
Bangladesh faces similar batting concerns. Despite posting a competitive 213, their high dot-ball percentage of 62.04 underscores a need for better strike rotation in the series decider. The top order has been a particular weakness, with Saif Hassan and Najmul Hossain Shanto yet to make a significant score. While Soumya Sarkar top-scored with 46, the team relied on late-innings power-hitting from Rishad Hossain to reach a respectable total. Although the match ended in a tie, Bangladesh’s bowling attack appeared slightly more threatening than their opponents’.
Form guide
Bangladesh LWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies WLWWL
In the spotlight – Soumya Sarkar and Akeal Hosein
Soumya Sarkar occupied the crease for nearly two hours on the difficult Dhaka pitch in the second ODI. Though he fell just short of a fifty, his innings lacked fluency despite a couple of well-executed shots. Tasked with the Super Over, he was unable to connect cleanly. It was another challenging outing for the enigmatic batter, who remains a mercurial presence in the Bangladesh side.
Akeal Hosein made an immediate impact after arriving in Dhaka just in time for the second ODI, playing a key role in levelling the series. Despite bowling a couple of wides and a no-ball in the Super Over, he successfully restricted the Bangladesh batters. This followed an economical spell in his return to the ODI team after a two-year absence, showing no signs of fatigue despite having had very little sleep. Hosein is expected to remain a central figure for the rest of the tour, likely taking the new ball in both white-ball formats.
Team news
Bangladesh may consider giving opportunities to Tanzid Hasan, Jaker Ali, or Shamim Hossain to bolster their batting lineup.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Soumya Sarkar, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mahidul Islam, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 7 Nurul Hasan (wk), 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Nasum Ahmed, 10 Tanvir Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
West Indies could turn to Amir Jangoo if they decide to make a change in their top six.
West Indies (probable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Alick Athanaze, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt, wk), 5 Ackeem Auguste, 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Roston Chase, 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Justin Greaves, 10 Akeal Hosein, 11 Khary Pierre
Pitch and conditions
The Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch has proven extremely challenging for batters, offering variable turn and bounce while being noticeably two-paced. Its performance will likely be under scrutiny by match officials.
Stats and trivia
- The second ODI was the first tied game in Bangladesh’s international cricket history.
- Towhid Hridoy and Shai Hope are the only batters to have scored half-centuries in the series so far.
- The two teams combined to bowl 92 overs of spin in the second match, the most ever in an ODI.
Quotes
“We just broke our record today – 50 overs of spin. So you tell me, where in the world have you seen that? Lovely match, exciting, you know, it was nail-biting, but I’ll leave it as that.”
Akeal Hosein on the nature of the cricket being played.
“It’s very difficult to play strokes on this wicket. You’ve seen that not many singles were easily scored, and very few boundaries were hit in the overs.”
Soumya Sarkar on the challenging batting conditions in Dhaka.
