Bangladesh seals the 3-match ODI series 2-1 against West Indies

Bangladesh cricket team’s ODI series victory against West Indies was perhaps the best gift for the entire nation in the month of victory. The host nation defeated the Caribbean team by eight wickets in the series decider third and final ODI match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday (December 14). This victory helped the home team clinch the ODI series 2-1. With this victory, the Tigers also enhanced their tally of ODI series victory at home.

Winning the toss, Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza invited the touring side to bat first. Due to Bangladesh bowlers’ tight bowling, West Indies could manage to score 198 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their stipulated overs. Shai Hope played an unbeaten knock of 131-ball 108, including nine fours and one six. His endeavor failed to put up a competitive total on the board as other West Indies batsmen performed miserably. The second best of their innings was Marlon Samuels’ 19.

With two back-to-back centuries:146 and 108 runs in the second and third ODIs respectively, Hope finished the three-match ODI series with a total of 297 runs, beating the previous record held by Australia’s Shane Watson who scored 294 runs against Bangladesh back in 2011.

Bangladesh off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz finished with a figure of 4 for 29 in 10 overs while Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza each claimed two wickets. Mohammad Saifuddin took one wicket.

However, after coming to chase, Bangladesh reached the target with 69 balls left at hand. The home team scored 202 runs losing only two wickets in 38.3 overs. Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar made a 131-run partnership for the second wicket stand. Tamim remained not out on 81 while Soumya scored 80 runs, hitting five boundaries and as many sixes. After the dismissal of Soumya, Mushfiqur Rahim came to bat and played a 16-run innings decorated with two fours and one six. The right-handed opening batsman Liton Das made a good start, but once again became the victim of poor shot selection. For this reason, he could not extend his innings. Scoring 23 off 33 balls with 5 boundaries, he got caught out at mid-off by Rovman Powell off Keemo Paul.

Both wickets were taken by Keemo Paul conceding 38 runs. Apart from him, none of the bowlers could put any pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh was declared “Player of the Match” while West Indies’ Shai Hope was awarded the “Player of the Series” title.

Scorecard-http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18783/scorecard/1153316/bangladesh-vs-west-indies-3rd-odi-wi-in-bangladesh-2018-19 

Bangladesh seals the two-Test series 2-0 over West Indies

Bangladesh cricket team is becoming indomitable on home ground day by day. The Tigers do not care who they are playing against or how strong their opponent team is. When they come to the playground, their only intention is to win the match at any cost. They are breaking old records to set the new one in all formats of the game. In the recently concluded two-match Test series, Bangladesh cricket team not only defeated their opponent but also beat some old records.

Winning the second and final Test match by an innings and 184 runs on Sunday at Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, the Bangladesh cricket team whitewashed West Indies in the recently concluded two-match Test series. Like the first Test match, the host team also wrapped up their opponent team within three days of the second Test match. This victory is so far considered Bangladesh’s biggest-margin victory in Test cricket. It is also their first ever Test match victory by an innings margin.

Luck favored the home team from the beginning of the series. If Shakib Al Hasan, captain of the Bangladesh Test cricket team, did not win the toss, result would have gone in favor of their opponent team. Winning the toss, Shakib Al Hasan decided to bat first, which later proved to be a right decision in a bowling friendly pitch. Batting first, the host nation put a mammoth total of 508 runs losing all wickets in their first innings. The debutant batsman Shadman Islam came under attention playing an inning of 199-ball 76. Shakib Al Hasan scored 80 runs. Mahmudullah scored 136 runs off 242 balls. It was his third Test century. He made a 111-run partnership with Shakib for the sixth wicket. Mahmudullah then made a 92-run seventh-wicket partnership with Liton Das who scored 54 runs from 62 balls. Liton Das was the only batsman to hit an over boundary in Bangladesh’s only innings in the match. 

For West Indies, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Devendra Bishoo and Kraigg Brathwaite took two wickets each while the other two wickets were shared by Shermon Lewis and Roston Chase. 

Coming to reply, West Indies was bowled out for just 111 runs in the first innings and was forced to follow on. Shimron Hetmyer and Shane Dowrich were top run scorers as they respectively scored 39 and 37 runs. However, their second innings ended on 213, with Shimron Hetmyer top scored with 93 off 92 balls. However, Kemar Roach, the nightwatchman, remained not out on 37. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the pick of the bowlers. He finished with 12 for 117. His figures: 7 for 58 and 5 for 59 in the first and second innings respectively helped Bangladesh wrap up the victory in three days. Shakib Al Hasan also played an important role with ball as he took 4 wickets in the match. In the first innings, all wickets were taken by only two spinners- Mehidy and Shakib. However, Taijul Islam claimed three wickets while Nayeem Hasan picked up a wicket in the second innings.

Earlier, in the first Test match, Bangladesh beat West Indies by 64 runs and took 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was declared “Player of the Match” while Shakib Al Hasan was named “Player of the Series”.

Now, both teams will take on each other in the 3-match ODI series, scheduled to be started from December 9, 2018 at 1:00 PM Bangladesh time.

Scorecard- http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18783/scorecard/1153312/bangladesh-vs-west-indies-2nd-test-wi-in-bangladesh-2018-19