Bangladesh wrapped up a successful campaign of 2-1 win in an ODI series against host West Indies, which ended at Warner Park, Basseterre in St Kitts on July 28. It was a fine turnaround after the disastrous 0-2 Test series loss against the host side earlier this month.
Bangladesh got an 18-run win in the 3rd game putting up 301/6, a high-scoring one on Windies soil, and the Windies were then in hot pursuit before stopping at 283/6.
Bangladesh had taken the lead in the series with a comfortable 48-run win in the first game while the Windies bounced back, winning the second game by three runs in a last-over thriller, making the 3rd game as series decider.
In the first game Bangladesh scored 279 for 4 in 50 overs and restricted Windies at 231 for 9 in 50 overs. The visitors finished at 268 for 6 in 50 overs, in reply to Windies 271 for all in 49.3 overs in the second game, both at Providence Stadium in Guyana.
The highest run-getter [6305 runs in ODI, 4049 in Test and 1433 in T20I] for Bangladesh in all format of international cricket, opener Tamim Iqbal was outstanding throughout the series with 287 [130*, 54 and 103] from three games.
Player of the series Tamim has taken his century tally in ODIs to 11, which is the most in numbers among Bangladesh players.
“I think the patience that I showed in the first, second and third match makes me happy as it proved that my hard work paid off,” said Tamim after the series, referring to balls he faced 160, 85 and 124 balls in the three innings. He was adjudged man of the match twice — in the first and third games – of the series.
The talismanic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan also had a good series with scores of 190 [97, 56 and 37], and two wickets in the second game. He played 121, 72 and 44 balls in three innings.
Tamim and Shakib shared a world record of highest partnership aggregation in a three-match ODI series in a successive wicket with 385 in the second wicket, which included Bangladesh’s 2nd highest ODI partnership of 207 came from off 43 overs in the first game before 97 off 24.3 overs and 81 off 16 overs in the second and third games.
Among other experienced Bangladesh players dependable Mahmudullah Riyad [49-ball 67* in the 3rd game] and a consistent performer Mushfiqur Rahim [rapid 11-ball 30 in the first game and a 67-ball 68 in the second] played much sounded innings with bat in the series.
Thanks to Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s luck winning the toss in all three games of the series — elected bat, bowl and bat — and an innings of 25-ball 36 that included four boundaries — of them three successive in 42nd over off Windies skipper Jason Holder — and one six in the 3rd game.
Mashrafe was the series topper in terms of wickets, with seven including 4/37 in the first match, while his fellow pace-man Mustafizur Rahman was other Bangladesh’s best bowler with six including 2/35 in the first game in the Caribbean.
Despite won the series, Bangladesh have lost one rating point in the ICC ODI Team Ranking, but the 7th place of the Tigers, achieved in 2015, is remained intact after the loss of the rating point.
However, Bangladesh started three-match ODI series having 93 rating points and now on 92 for their one defeat against their 9th placed West Indies with the rating points of 70. Bangladesh had a good chance to improve their rating points to 95 had they won the ODI series 3-0.
But Tamim, Shakib and Mahmudullah moved up their spots in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings for batsmen, updated on July 28.
Tamim advanced four steps to get 13th spot while Shakib three places to 26th and gained four positions to get to number 38th.
Among bowlers, Mashrafe and Mustafiz advanced in the Player Rankings. Mashrafe gained eight spots to be joint 19th with Matt Henry of New Zealand and Mustafiz the number 17 spot, a gain of two spots.
Meanwhile, Shakib lost three spots in the bowlers’ table, but remained the top-ranked ODI all-rounder.
Completing third ODI series win against West Indies, Bangladesh got an ODI series victory after around a two-year break. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s men last got a series win in this format against Afghanistan at home in September 2016.
Bangladesh first got a series win 3-0 on a West Indies tour in July 2009 and a 3-2 win at home in November 2012.
Among their 31 ODI encounters, Bangladesh registered nine victories against 20 losses while two matches had seen no results.
Bothe side will play a three-match T20I series will be held on July 31, August 4 and 5.
