West Indies defeated Bangladesh by three runs to triumph in a must win encounter against Bangladesh in the three match ODI series on Wednesday. Shimron Hetmyer played a scintillating knock of 125 runs in just 93 balls to take the hosts to a respectable total of 271 in 50 overs. In reply, Bangladesh were well on course but could not finish the game as they fell agonisingly short of the target.
Bangladesh welcomed the opposition captain Jason Holder in a brute manner by hitting 20 runs of his very first over. It was a brave decision by the West Indian skipper to bring himself on in the 50th when the visitors needed eight of the last over. Though, he became the most expensive Caribbean bowler with figures of 66 for one in his full quota of overs against Bangladesh in an ODI, he managed to win the match for his side when it mattered the most.
“We just had to hang in there and believe in ourselves. Bangladesh came at us hard and credit to them for the way they batted at the top. But we didn’t give up and it really sets things up for the final match.”, said Jason Holder.
Bangladesh looked well on course to clinch the series when Mushfiqur and Mahmadullah in a 84 run stand for the fourth wicket. But Mahmadullah’s run out in the 46th over proved to be the turning point of the match.
“It was a game we should have won but we made too many mistakes at the end. We weren’t at our best in the field either but the series is still alive and we believe we have what it takes to win it.”, said Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza.
Brief scores: West Indies 271 in 49.3 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 125, Rubel Hossain 3-61) beat Bangladesh 268/6 in 50 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 68, Ashley Nurse 1-34) by 3 runs.