Bangladesh seal the series with a massive win over West Indies

Bangladesh turned a tricky wicket into a stage for batting brilliance as they crushed the West Indies by 179 runs, clinching the three-match ODI series 2–1. A pitch that had troubled batsmen in the first two matches suddenly witnessed strokes and boundaries flowing freely, thanks to Soumya Sarkar and Saif Hassan. Their record-breaking 176-run opening partnership set the tone, leaving the West Indies under relentless pressure.

The win marked Bangladesh's second-biggest margin of victory in ODIs and a record against the West Indies. Their only larger win came against Ireland in 2023, by 183 runs. It also offered a welcome respite after four consecutive series losses, though the team remains 10th in the ODI rankings.

At Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, Soumya and Saif dominated from the outset. Saif attacked the first over of Akil Hossain, hitting two fours off the left-arm spinner, and followed up with a six in the next over. Soumya began cautiously, his first four coming off the edge, before finding his rhythm with a reverse sweep for six over Royston Chase and another six from the same bowler later. By the 10th over, Bangladesh had reached 74.

Both batsmen showed remarkable composure, even with moments of luck. Soumya survived a difficult chance at 29, while Saif was dropped at 39. They pushed the partnership past 150 before finally separating at 176 runs. Saif fell for 80 from 72 balls, hitting six sixes and six fours, while Soumya was dismissed for 91 off 86 balls, seven fours and three sixes, visibly frustrated at missing a century.

This opening stand remains the best at Mirpur for Bangladesh, surpassing the 150-run effort by Imrul Kayes and Enamul Haque against Pakistan in 2014. Even on a pitch that offered some turn and bounce, the pair's attacking intent and timing made the wicket appear far easier to bat on than it actually was.

After the openers' departure, Bangladesh's middle order struggled to accelerate. Tawhid Hridoy managed 28 off 44 balls, while Najmul Hossain Shanto hit three sixes but fell for 44 off 55. Mahidul Islam Ankon (6) and Rishad Hossain (3) failed to make an impact. Nurul Hasan Sohag promoted Nasum Ahmed to maintain the right-left balance, but he scored only 1 off two balls. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz came in at number nine and added 17 off 17 to guide the tail before Sohag remained unbeaten on 16 off eight balls.

Bangladesh's spin quartet ran through the West Indies, dismissing them for 117 in just 30.1 overs. Nasum Ahmed claimed the first three wickets, followed by Tanvir Islam and Rishad Hossain, while Miraz finished the last two to seal a comprehensive win. It was only the second instance in ODIs that Bangladesh had dismissed an opposition entirely with spin, and the first without pacers taking a wicket.

This win gives Bangladesh a morale boost after a difficult run in ODIs. The team now turns their attention to the T20 series in Chattogram, beginning Monday.