WI vs BAN 2024/25, West Indies vs Bangladesh 3rd ODI, Basseterre Match Report, December 12, 2024

West Indies 325 for 6 (Jangoo 104*, Carty 95, Rishad 2-69) beaten Bangladesh 321 for 5 (Mahmudullah 84*, Mehidy 77, Soumya 73, Jaker 62*, Joseph 2-43) by four wickets

Brandan King picked up where he left off in the second ODI, as he hit two fours and a six off Nasum Ahmed in the second over of the innings. His innings was similarly cut short after a mix-up with opening partner Alick Athanaze over a non-existent run. Athanaze himself didn’t last long, getting crushed during a sweep attempt on Nasum’s next pass.

Carty was steady at the other end, having already hit two fours. Afif dropped him in the 22nd over before Carty took on the Bangladesh spinners in the middle overs. He hit Rishad Hossain for consecutive fours in the 18th over, before hammering Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a six and a four in the 21st over. Jangoo hit Nasum for three fours in short order before bowling Afif for his first six.

Perhaps it was in the 34th over that Bangladesh really let the game slip away. Jangoo had missed Rishad, only to see replacement fielder Parvez Hossain Emon drop the chance as he returned to mid-off. Rishad dismissed Carty next ball, Soumya taking a weak catch at point. He also made a superb one-handed catch to dismiss Roston Chase, but Jangoo’s miss came back to haunt them.

Immediately after Chase’s exit, Jangoo hit Mehidy for his second six, before Motie and Jangoo hit Mahmud for a six each in the 43rd over. They hit a four each in the next over against Taskin, before the pair ended the chase.

The day could have belonged to Bangladesh given the way they batted. After a disastrous start, losing Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das in the third over to be reduced to 9 for 2, Soumya and Mehidy resurrected the innings with a third wicket partnership of 136 runs. Alzarri Joseph rushed Tanzid with a bouncer with the southpaw leading for a pull shot. Litton’s horror run in ODIs continued when he edged King at first slip.

Mehidy was positive from the start, hitting five boundaries in the powerplay. Soumya, who was dropped at zero, opened up after the power play. He bowled the upper-cut to Romario Shepherd for a six, before collaring Chase and Motie for a six each in consecutive overs.

Soon after Soumya was dropped a second time, on 45 by Jangoo, Mehidy hit debutant Jediah Blades for a four-six. Soumya added a four to take 16 runs off the over, before getting two more fours off his next over. Soumya was on a roll when he hit Motie for his fourth six, but fell the next ball when the left-arm spinner trapped him in front. Soumya’s 73 came at random, including six fours and four sixes.

Six overs after Soumya’s dismissal, Rutherford’s pinpoint delivery found Mehidy short at the striker’s end as he fell for 77 off 73 balls. Rutherford then had Afif Hossain caught at mid-wicket boundary for 15, as Bangladesh again lost two wickets in quick succession.

But the last 20 overs belonged to Jaker and Mahmudullah. The pair had already added 96 runs in the first ODI, but this time they did much better. After Jaker hit his first two fours, Mahmudullah ground Motie down for his first six, before hitting Chase for his second, over long-on.

Jaker joined in on the six hits, when he slammed Shepherd at cover, followed by Mahmudullah driving Rutherford from outside off for a six over square leg. Bangladesh scored 59 runs in the last four overs, giving them a solid total. It ultimately wasn’t enough.