Mirpur: West Indies became the first side to bowl an entire 50-over innings of spin in a one-day international during a remarkable super-over win against Bangladesh in Mirpur.
According to BBC, Bangladesh is the second-best country to bowl spin among major host nations, with spinners averaging 29.76 there since the start of 2023. The Windies were presented with another worn, slow, and turning pitch, similar to the one on which they were spun out in defeat in the first ODI held on Saturday.
Once renowned for their pace bowlers, the tourists made a strategic decision by leaving out paceman Jayden Seales. They opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and part-time off-spinner Roston Chase. All-rounders Greaves and Sherfane Rutherford, who both bowl medium-fast pace, were not brought into the attack, and seam-bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd was also left out of the XI. Additionally, seamers Jediah Blades and Shamar Joseph were unavailable due to injuries.
Bangladesh relied on pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who bowled eight wicketless overs for 40 runs in the regulation innings, but spinners continued to dominate, taking all nine wickets as the tourists ended on 213-9, resulting in tied scores. With West Indies at 133-7 earlier, they needed just five runs from the last over with two wickets left but managed only two from the first five balls. With Hope on 53 not out at the non-striker’s end, it left number 11 Pierre needing three runs from the final delivery. He top-edged a slog to square leg where wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan dropped the catch, allowing the Windies to steal two runs and force a super over.
In the super over, the hosts were set a target of 11 runs to win from their six balls. Despite starting with a wide and following with a no-ball, spinner Hosein conceded only one run from the last ball when Bangladesh needed three for victory. The series concludes at the same ground on Thursday.