MIRPUR, Bangladesh — On a surface built for spinners but not for the faint of heart, Rishad Hossain delivered a spell that will echo through Bangladesh’s cricketing chronicles.
The leg-spinner’s mesmerizing 6 for 35 demolished the West Indies’ chase and secured a 74-run victory for the hosts in the opening One-Day International at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium Saturday.
It was a defining night for the 21-year-old, who not only recorded his first five-wicket haul in ODIs but also single-handedly turned what seemed a comfortable pursuit into a dramatic collapse. The visitors, chasing 208, folded meekly for 133 in 39 overs, undone by Hossain’s guile and unrelenting precision.
West Indies start brightly before the storm
The West Indies had looked well-poised early on. Openers Brandon King and Alick Athanaze navigated the initial overs with confidence after consecutive maidens from Taskin Ahmed and Tanvir Islam.
King broke free with a four and a six off Taskin, while Athanaze countered Islam with three boundaries and a towering six over long-on, propelling the Windies to 28 without loss after four overs. Their aggression appeared to set the tone for a routine chase.
Athanaze reached 27 and brought up the team’s fifty in the 12th over — but that milestone marked the calm before the storm.
The leg-spinner’s web: A collapse nfolds
Player of the Match Hossain struck with his very first victim, trapping Athanaze lbw to open the floodgates. He then removed Keacy Carty for 11, caught at slip, as the Windies slipped from comfort into chaos.
King, the last bastion of resistance, fell to a ball of pure deception — a leg-break that drifted, gripped, and feathered the edge on its way to the wicketkeeper. His departure for 44 at 82 for three began the unraveling.
Three balls later, Sherfane Rutherford was gone without scoring, attempting a rash cut too close to his body. Then came Roston Chase, edging behind for six to hand Hossain his maiden five-wicket haul and Bangladesh full control at 92 for five.
From there, the West Indies never recovered. Captain Shai Hope’s dismissal for 15 off Tanvir Islam confirmed the inevitable, before Mustafizur Rahman (2 for 16) swept up the tail. Fittingly, it was Hossain who closed proceedings — having Jayden Seales caught at slip to seal a landmark win.
Bangladesh overcome rocky start
Earlier, Hope had chosen to bowl first after winning the toss — a decision that soon looked questionable. The visitors struck early through Romario Shepherd, who trapped Saif Hassan lbw, and Seales, who had Soumya Sarkar caught at backward point, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 8 for 2.
But Towhid Hridoy steadied the innings with a composed 51, partnering Najmul Hossain Shanto (32) in a crucial 71-run stand for the third wicket. Later, Mahidul Islam Ankon (46) and a late burst of 26 off 13 balls from Hossain himself lifted Bangladesh to a competitive 207 all out in 49.4 overs.
For the West Indies, Seales (3 for 48) was the pick of the bowlers, supported by Chase (2 for 30) and Justin Greaves (2 for 32).
Bangladesh draw first blood
With the emphatic victory, Bangladesh take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The West Indies, meanwhile, are left to reflect on a squandered start and their inability to negotiate quality spin under pressure.
The teams will reconvene at the same venue on Tuesday for the second encounter — one that the visitors must win to stay alive in the series.
