A feeling of astonishment filled the press box at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur as Bangladesh’s opening duo, Soumya Sarkar and Saif Hassan, displayed a remarkable batting performance against the West Indies in the decisive third ODI. The Mirpur pitch, heavily criticized in the previous matches, seemed to undergo a transformation as the openers aggressively tackled the West Indies bowlers, putting up an outstanding 176-run partnership off 152 deliveries.
Interestingly, the same pitch that caused batting difficulties in the initial ODI was now a batting paradise, witnessing the openers’ onslaught. Despite missing out on reaching centuries, with Saif scoring 80 off 71 balls and Soumya reaching 91 off 86, the pitch dynamics shifted once they were dismissed, leading to a slower scoring rate for the remaining batters as Bangladesh concluded their innings at 296-8.
In the following innings, Bangladesh’s spinners dominated the West Indies, restricting them to a mere 117 runs in 30.1 overs, resulting in a convincing 179-run victory for Bangladesh and clinching the series 2-1. Nasum Ahmed and Rishad Hossain claimed three wickets each, while Tanvir Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz shared the remaining four wickets. This triumph marked Bangladesh’s first ODI series win after facing four consecutive series defeats.
The exceptional performance by Soumya and Saif showcased their determination and skill in challenging conditions, highlighting their ability to adapt and excel. Both batters approached the game differently but effectively, with Saif capitalizing on loose deliveries and Soumya starting cautiously before accelerating his scoring rate with aggressive stroke-play.
Their partnership not only set a milestone for Bangladesh with the first century opening stand in 45 innings but also surpassed previous records against the West Indies. The duo’s aggressive approach, including hitting a combined total of 10 sixes, helped Bangladesh equal their highest number of sixes in an ODI innings. Despite the other batters struggling, Soumya and Saif’s exemplary innings demonstrated that with confidence, intent, and skillful batting, success can be achieved even on challenging pitches like Mirpur.