SYLHET, Bangladesh, CMC – Shai Hope struck his second successive hundred and fourth of his career but West Indies’ four-year wait for a one-day series win continued here Friday when they went down by eight wickets to Bangladesh in the decisive third One-Day International.
Entering the contest at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium with high hopes after impressively levelling the series in Dhaka on Tuesday, West Indies were brought back down to earth again when their batsmen once against disappointed, managing an inadequate 198 for nine off their 50 overs.
The right-handed Hope, whose career-best unbeaten 147 was instrumental in Tuesday’ win, was once again the only beacon for the Caribbean side, stroking a high class 108 not out.
He batted through the innings, facing 131 balls and striking nine fours and a six but had no support whatsoever, as only two other top order batsmen – Marlon Samuels (19) and Darren Bravo (10) – reached double figures.
Hope, deservedly voted Man-of-the-Series, did not take the field when Bangladesh batted, however, after taking a blow to the helmet at the start of the 50th over and being put under observation.
Not for the first time, the Windies had little answer to off-spinner Mehidy Hasan, whose four for 29 from his 10 overs left him with the Man-of-the-Match honor.
Captain and seamer Mashrafe Mortaza (2-34) and left-arm spinner Shakib-al-Hasan (2-40) supported with two wickets apiece.
Bangladesh coasted in reply, with Tamim Iqbal top-scoring with an unbeaten 81 and Soumya Sarkar carving out a near run-a-ball 80, comfortably reaching their target in the 39th over under no pressure.
The series defeat was the Windies’ second of the year to Bangladesh following a similar 2-1 loss in the Caribbean earlier this year, and are now without a series success since they got the better of the Tigers in the Caribbean back in 2014.
