Bangladesh delivered a statement performance on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, annihilating the West Indies by 179 runs in the third and final ODI of their bilateral series. The win sealed a 2-1 series triumph — Bangladesh’s first series victory since March 2024 — and exposed deep cracks in the visitors’ batting lineup on home soil. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and chose to bat, setting up a masterclass in aggressive yet controlled batting on a pitch that had been expected to favor spinners. What followed wasn’t just a win. It was a reckoning.
Opening fireworks on a spin-friendly pitch
The Bangladesh openers, Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar, turned convention on its head. On a surface where most teams struggle to score 200, they raced to 176 runs in just 26.4 overs. Saif smashed 80 off 72 balls — six fours, six sixes, strike rate 111.11 — while Sarkar countered with 91 off 86, mixing power and placement with chilling precision. Their partnership wasn’t just the second-highest opening stand in Bangladesh’s ODI history; it was the first century opening stand at this stadium in ten years. The crowd roared. The West Indies fielders looked shell-shocked.Bottom of the order holds firm
After the openers fell — Saif caught by Justin Greaves off Roston Chase, Sarkar caught by Ackeem Auguste off Akeal Hosein — the middle order steadied. Najmul Hossain Shanto (44 off 55) and Tawhid Hridoy (28 off 44) provided crucial anchors before falling to Alick Athanaze. The finish was explosive: Nurul Hasan cracked 16 off just eight balls — including a six — while captain Mehidy added 17 off 17. The innings closed at 296 for 8, a total that felt like 350 on this pitch. Extras (10 runs) came mostly from wides and leg byes — a sign of West Indies’ erratic line and length.West Indies’ collapse: 117 all out in 30.1 overs
The visitors never looked in it. Rishad Hossain opened the bowling with fire, trapping Gudakesh Motie lbw for a duck and then cleaning up captain Roston Chase with a peach of an inswinger. His 3-54 wasn’t just about wickets — it was about pressure. Then came Nasum Ahmed, the left-arm spinner who turned the game into a nightmare. His 3-11 in 7.1 overs was surgical. He bowled at a perfect length, extracted turn from the worn middle, and had the West Indies’ top order playing and missing like schoolboys. By the 20th over, West Indies were 67 for 6. Tanvir Islam (2-16 in 8 overs) completed the demolition, his economy rate the lowest of any bowler in the match. The final wicket — Akeal Hosein (4-41) cleaning up the tail — was almost an afterthought.
Rishad Hossain: the quiet architect of the series
While the openers stole the headlines, it was Rishad Hossain who quietly rewrote the record books. With 12 wickets across the three ODIs — the most by a Bangladeshi bowler in a bilateral ODI series since 2015 — he became the fulcrum of this victory. His consistency, his ability to swing the ball both ways, and his nerve under pressure made him Bangladesh’s most valuable player. He didn’t celebrate wildly after each wicket. He just nodded, reset, and bowled the next over. That’s leadership.Why this matters: Bangladesh’s home fortress is back
This wasn’t just a win. It was a reclamation. For over a year, Bangladesh had been stuck in a cycle of near-misses — losing close games, collapsing in the final overs, failing to close out series. This time, they didn’t just win. They dominated. The Shere Bangla National Stadium — with its cracked, dusty pitch and electric crowd — has become a graveyard for touring teams. And now, with the Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh West Indies ODI Series 2025 concluded, the message is clear: if you’re coming to Bangladesh, bring your best spin game… and hope you’ve got one.
What’s next?
Bangladesh now turns to their next challenge — a home Test series against Sri Lanka in November. The confidence from this ODI win will be vital. For West Indies, the tour exposed glaring issues: top-order fragility, lack of spin threat, and poor fielding discipline. They leave without a series win, and without momentum. The real question: will they return to Asia with a plan, or just more excuses?Frequently Asked Questions
How significant is this series win for Bangladesh cricket?
This is Bangladesh’s first bilateral ODI series win since March 2024, ending a 20-month drought. It’s especially meaningful because it came against a full-strength West Indies side on home soil — a venue where Bangladesh has historically dominated but rarely sealed series with such authority. The 179-run margin is their largest win over West Indies in ODIs, and the 2-1 result proves they can win under pressure, not just by luck.
Why did West Indies collapse so badly on a spin pitch?
West Indies’ top order has struggled against spin in Asia for years, and this series was no exception. They lacked a specialist spinner in their lineup and sent in aggressive batters unprepared for the turn and bounce. Nasum Ahmed and Tanvir Islam exploited the worn pitch perfectly, while the West Indies batsmen played loose shots under pressure. Only Rishad Hosein (27) and Akeal Hosein (19) offered resistance — but it was too little, too late.
What made Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar’s partnership so special?
It was the first century opening stand at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in ten years — and on a pitch that had seen only 142 runs scored in the previous match’s first innings. Their strike rates (111 and 105) were extraordinary for these conditions. They didn’t just score; they dictated terms, forcing West Indies into defensive fields and then punishing them. This partnership is now the second-highest for Bangladesh in ODIs, behind only the 186-run stand by Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan in 2019.
How does Rishad Hossain’s 12-wicket series compare historically?
He’s the first Bangladeshi bowler since Shakib Al Hasan in 2015 to take over 10 wickets in a bilateral ODI series. Shakib took 15 wickets against Zimbabwe that year. Rishad’s 12 wickets came at an average of 13.83 and an economy of 4.12 — exceptional numbers in modern ODIs. He joins the likes of Mashrafe Mortaza and Mustafizur Rahman as the most effective pace-spin combo architects in Bangladesh’s recent history.
Was the pitch really that difficult?
Yes. The pitch had visible cracks and dried out rapidly after the first 15 overs. Spinners were getting sharp turn, and even pacers like Tanvir Islam found bounce. West Indies’ top-order batters, used to flat pitches in the Caribbean, looked visibly uncomfortable. Bangladesh’s players, by contrast, have trained on these surfaces since childhood. The home advantage wasn’t just psychological — it was physical.
What role did Dutch-Bangla Bank play in this series?
Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC, one of Bangladesh’s largest commercial banks with over BDT 1.5 trillion in assets, was the title sponsor. Their branding appeared on the pitch, scoreboards, and broadcast graphics. While they didn’t influence play, their sponsorship reflects the growing commercialization of domestic cricket in Bangladesh — and their confidence in the national team’s rising profile.
Alistair Lockridge
Hi, I'm Alistair Lockridge, a sports enthusiast with a special passion for the game of polo. I've spent years studying and analyzing the sport, eventually transforming my knowledge into insightful articles and engaging commentary. My love for polo has taken me around the world, and I've had the pleasure of witnessing some of the most thrilling matches in the sport's history. My goal is to share my passion and expertise with fellow polo enthusiasts and newcomers alike, and contribute to the ever-growing appreciation for this exciting game.
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