Dhaka, Oct 21 (NationPress) Akeal Hosein showcased remarkable composure during a nail-biting Super Over, clinching a thrilling one-run victory for the West Indies against Bangladesh at the Sher-E-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, tying the three-match ODI series 1-1 on Tuesday.

With a challenging task of defending ten runs in the extra over, Hosein employed a mix of dot balls, wides, and no-balls, yet maintained his calm under pressure. Bangladesh’s Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, and Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to find the boundary, allowing the West Indies to emerge victorious in a match noted for its chaos, spin dominance, and dramatic conclusion.

Earlier, the West Indies managed to score exactly ten runs in their Super Over, with captain Shai Hope hitting a boundary off the final delivery after Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Sherfane Rutherford on his second ball. This narrow total proved sufficient, thanks to Hosein’s unwavering control and Bangladesh’s missed scoring chances. This match marked Bangladesh’s first-ever tie in men’s international cricket—an unprecedented occurrence in 814 matches—before the West Indies triumphed in the one-over showdown.

Hope was pivotal in regular play, scoring the sole half-century of the game, contributing a steady 52 that propelled the West Indies close to victory in their chase of 214 runs. The game reached a critical point with five runs needed off the last over, bowled by Saif Hassan. After two dot balls and a single, Hope was on strike with Akeal Hosein at the other end. Hope opted for a single, but Saif struck back, bowling Hosein out.

This left Khary Pierre, the last batter, needing three off the final ball. His top edge soared towards square leg, where wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan dropped a straightforward catch and failed to deliver the ball to Mustafizur Rahman promptly. Pierre and Hope managed to run two runs, resulting in a tie and prompting the Super Over.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s innings was significantly bolstered by Rishad Hossain’s explosive late cameo. Entering with the team in trouble at 103 for 5, the leg-spinning all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 14 balls, including three fours and three sixes, all in the last 2.1 overs.

His onslaught lifted Bangladesh to a total of 213 after a sluggish start, where the top order struggled to convert. Soumya Sarkar, despite some elegant shots, managed only 45 off 89 balls with three fours and a six before being dismissed in the 31st over. Nurul Hasan added a quick 23, providing some stability before Rishad’s fireworks elevated the innings.

For the West Indies, Alick Athanaze excelled with the ball, achieving figures of 2 for 14 from ten overs, while Hosein contributed two wickets as well. Gudakesh Motie took 3 for 65, yet his figures were impacted by Rishad’s explosive finish.

In response, the West Indies’ chase faltered initially as Nasum Ahmed dismissed Brandon King in the first over. Alick Athanaze and Keacy Carty briefly steadied the ship during the Power-play, but both fell victim to Rishad—Athanaze lbw for 27, and Carty dismissed while attempting a reverse sweep.

Debutant Ackeem Auguste scored 17 before getting caught at square leg, while Sherfane Rutherford’s dismissal left the West Indies reeling at 103 for 5. Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie couldn’t stabilize the innings for long, falling quickly to Nasum and Rishad. From 133 for 7, Hope found support in Justin Greaves, adding 44 essential runs before Greaves was run out by Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s direct hit.

Despite Hosein’s late six that brought the West Indies within striking distance, the match ended in a tie after a frantic final over. The ensuing Super Over was gripping, with Hosein, having been both the hero and the nearly-man in quick succession, triumphantly restricting Bangladesh to nine runs when ten were needed.

In this victory, the West Indies not only leveled the series but also made history as the first team to bowl spin for all 50 overs in an ODI, surpassing Sri Lanka’s record of 44 overs from 2004.

With Bangladesh employing 42 overs of spin as well, the match featured an unprecedented 92 overs of slow bowling.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh: 213/3 & 9/1 in super over (Soumya Sarkar: 45, Rishad Hossain: 39 not out; Gudakesh Motie: 3-65, Alick Athanaze: 2-14) lost to West Indies: 213/9 & 10/1 in super over (Shai Hope: 53 not out, Keacy Carry: 35; Rishad Hossain: 3-42, Nasum Ahmed: 2-38) by one run in super over.