MIRPUR, Bangladesh, , (CMC) – In a match that defied belief and pushed tension to the absolute limit, Captain Shai Hope, with a dogged unbeaten half-century and spinner Akeal Hosein combined to pull off a stunning, last-gasp victory for the West Indies over Bangladesh in the second One Day International here on Tuesday.
The heart-stopping contest at the Shere Bangla National Stadium was ultimately decided by a rare Super Over, with the visitors snatching a one-run win to level the three-match series and set up a dramatic finale.
Reflecting on the galvanising win, Hosein, who bowled the super over, emphasised its significance for a team in the building phase.
“These wins do a lot for the team, you know, it brings them together, it makes everyone believe. And at the end of the day, a win is a win. And I think that these wins that we scrape and fight as a unit to get over the line can only do wonders for the team.”
The left-arm spinner also explained a key tactical decision that saw the West Indies bowl 50 consecutive overs of spin for the first time in their ODI history, praising part-timer Alick Athanaze for his discipline.
“When you look at a surface and what it’s doing, it makes little sense asking your fast bowlers to run up and exert that kind of effort. We do have several quality spinners… [Athanaze] goes down as a part-timer, but at the end of the day, discipline is key… he stuck to the plan… and it paid off.”
With the series now perfectly poised at 1-1, Hosein identified the key to clinching the decider.
“I think the confidence in the camp is good; it’s just about execution,” he said. “On these sorts of pitches, you’re never really in until you finish the job… if you are in, you take it straight to the end and bring that game home for the team. Don’t leave it up for anyone else.”
The third and final day/night game will be played today.