Dhaka: Two contrasting innings from Soumya Sarkar and Rishad Hossain helped Bangladesh post a competitive 213-7 in their second ODI against West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, on a pitch that posed challenges, opener Soumya Sarkar anchored the innings with a patient 45 off 89 balls. Meanwhile, lower-order batter Rishad Hossain provided a late flourish with a rapid 39 off just 14 balls. Their contributions ensured Bangladesh crossed the 200-run mark, a score deemed defendable on such a wicket.
Bangladesh entered the match with a 1-0 lead in the series, following a 74-run win in the first ODI. A victory in this game would secure the series for them.
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh faced early setbacks with the dismissals of opener Saif Hasan (6) and previous match half-centurion Towhid Hridoy (12). Soumya, however, managed to hold his ground on the challenging pitch, albeit with a slow scoring rate.
Contributions from Najmul Hossain Shanto (15) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (17) were short-lived. After crossing the 100-run mark, Soumya was dismissed by left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.
Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz took charge as Bangladesh continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, leaving them in a precarious position. However, Rishad’s aggressive approach injected much-needed momentum, allowing Bangladesh to surpass 200 runs.
Rishad’s explosive innings included three fours and three sixes, while Miraz remained unbeaten on 32, scoring just one boundary off 58 balls. Gudakesh Motie emerged as the most successful bowler for West Indies with figures of 3-44, while Akeal Hosein and Alick Athanaze, who conceded just 14 runs in 10 overs, claimed two wickets each.