Captain Shai Hope and Akeal Hosein combined to lead West Indies to an unlikely, heart-stopping victory over Bangladesh in the second One Day International that had to be decided by a rare Super Over.
After being bowled out for 213 and facing a levelling victory after Bangladesh did well to get up to 213 for seven from their 50 overs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, West Indies nearly fell down and out at 133 for seven, before Hope rescued his side with an unbeaten half-century that helped them tie the scores at 213 for nine off the last ball of their innings.
Playing in just their second ODI Super Over, the West Indies lost the wicket of Sherfane Rutherford after mustering just six runs off the first five deliveries bowled by pacer Mustafizur Rahman, until Hope picked up a fortunate boundary off the last ball to carry his side to 10 for one.
Akeal Hosein then made amends for bowling a wide and no-ball in his first two deliveries in the Super Over, to restrict Bangladesh to nine for one and seal victory by one run for his side.
The result tied the series at 1-1, with the third and decisive ODI slated for Thursday at the same venue.
In a contest that both sides had chances to win, Bangladesh would be disappointed at not being able to grab a series-levelling victory.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, they were initially pegged back by the Windies’ bowlers, which shockingly featured an all-spin attack. When Gudakesh Motie dismissed Nasum Ahmed to leave the home side struggling at 128 for six in the 39th over, they were in danger of being bowled out inside their 50 overs.
However, captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who scored an unbeaten 32, and Nurul Hasan added 35 for the seventh wicket, before Miraz teamed up with Rishad Hossain, who belted 39 off just 14 balls with three sixes and three fours, during an unbroken partnership of 50.
In all, Bangladesh bludgeoned 82 runs from the last 10 overs to get up to their eventual total.
Motie led the way for the West Indies with 3-65, Alick Athanaze took 2-14 and Hosein 2-41.
The West Indies lost Brandon King for a duck in the first over of their chase, but Alick Athanaze and Keacy Carty added 51 runs for the second wicket to carry them to 52 for one.
But similar to the opening ODI, the visitors suffered a collapse, losing the wickets of Athanaze for 28, Carty for 35, debutant Ackeem Auguste for 17, Sherfane Rutherford for just seven and Gudakesh Motie, to crumble to 128 for six in the 33rd over.
Five runs later Roston Chase was caught behind off the bowling of Nasum Ahmed, to leave Bangladesh firmly in control.
But Hope and Justin Greaves put on 44 for the eighth wicket to transform the complexion of the match and carry the West Indies within sight of victory.
However, Greaves was run out for 26 by a direct hit following a spectacular piece of fielding by Miraz at cover with the Windies still needing 37 runs from 31 balls.
Hosein joined Hope at the crease and the pair dominated proceedings during a partnership of 34 that took them to the brink of a memorable win.
Hope brought up his half-century off 65 balls with two runs to deep point and the West Indies seemed firm favourites with just five runs required from the last over bowled by Saif Hassan.
Hosein completely missed the first two balls before both he and Hope picked up singles off the third and fourth deliveries, respectively. Hassan then struck by bowling Hosein with the penultimate ball of the innings, to leave West Indies requiring three runs off the last ball.
Last man Khary Pierre was lucky not to be dismissed when his sweep shot found the top edge and ballooned into the air at midwicket, but wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan dropped the chance to allow the batsmen to run two and tie the scores to force the Super Over. (CMC)
The post Hope, Hosein star as West Indies edge Bangladesh in Super Over thriller appeared first on Barbados Today.
