Sohan, Miraz put on the finishing touches as Tigers post 296 for 8

Bangladesh posted 296 for 8 in the series-deciding third and final ODI against West Indies in Mirpur, thanks largely to the Soumya-Sarkar-Saif Hassan opening stand of 176 off just 152 deliveries. The innings was built on that opening stand while Tawhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto stitched together a fifth stand for the fourth wicket.

Tigers would lose wicket in a hurry from the 44th over. In the space of 15 deliveries, Bangladesh lost four wickets, that of Shanto, Ankon, Rishad and Nasum Ahmed, the latter three unable to reach double figures. After Athanaze accounted for Shanto, second ODI's hero Akeal Hosein bagged all three wickets in the space of those 15 deliveries.

Nurul Hasan Sohan's cameo 8-ball 16 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz's run-a-ball 17 saw Bangladesh eventually put on 296 on the board. The duo managed 35 off 24 deliveries before Miraz fell on the last delivery of the innings.

Shanto-Hridoy depart after fifty stand

With run-rate dropping, both Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tawhid Hridoy fell in quick succession following their fifty stand.

Shanto and Hridoy were not as fluent as the openers but built on that flying partnership of 176 between the openers to stitch together a 50-run stand off 69 deliveries for the fourth wicket. While Soumya and Saif were batting at a run-rate of 6.55 before the partnership was broken.

Batting appeared to be a much more difficult prospect -- scoring-rate coming down below six -- once the openers left and Hridoy, looking to accelerate with the death overs approaching, perished for a 44-ball 28, holed out at deep mid-wicket unable to clear the fence with his slog sweep. Shanto departed for 44 after Alick Athanaze took a fantastic diving catch off his own bowling, running behind the delivery to make up a lot of ground. Bangladesh were four down for 254 in 44 overs.

Saif, Soumya miss out on tons after record opening stand

Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar missed out on centuries but only after stitching together the highest opening stand for Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur -- and also the highest opening stand against the West Indies -- during the third and final ODI on Thursday.

Saif was the first to depart after a 72-ball 80, laced with six maximums and as many fours, when he was caught at long-on off a delivery from Roston Chase in the 26th over. That dismissal ended a 176-run opening stand, surpassing Bangladesh's previous best of 150 between Anamul Haque Bijoy and Imrul Kayes against Pakistan at the same venue in 2014. It was also the Tigers' highest opening partnership against the Windies, eclipsing the 144-run stand between Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar in Dublin in 2019.

Bangladesh lost Soumya soon after Saif, with the left-hander finding the fielder at deep midwicket off an Akeal Hosein delivery in the 29th over. Soumya made 91 off 86 deliveries, featuring seven fours and four maximums.

Bangladesh reached 194 for two after 30 overs, with Towhid Hridoy unbeaten on three off 12 balls and Najmul Hossain Shanto not out on 13 off 10.

Saif, Soumya hit fifties as Tigers get 100-plus opening stand

Soumya Sarkar and Saif Hassan hit fifties, as Bangladesh got a 100-plus opening stand in the third and final ODI against the West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday. 

Soumya notched his 14th ODI fifty while Saif got his maiden half-century in the format, as the Tigers raced to 123 for no loss in 18 overs. Saif remains unbeaten on 54 off 49 deliveries, while Soumya made 66 not out off 59 deliveries.  

Both the batters spared no loose deliveries from the Windies, but were also cautious enough in their approach. They have already smashed nine fours and seven maximums, asserting their authority, as the Tigers eye a big total on a slow and low surface.   

Saif, Soumya give Tigers a flying start

Openers Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar gave Bangladesh a flying start in the third and final ODI against the West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

Looking to avoid a fifth consecutive ODI series loss, skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz opted to bat after winning the toss, and the openers came out all guns blazing on a slow, low, and dark Mirpur pitch.

West Indies spinners Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, and Khary Pierre managed to extract some turn off the surface, but both Saif and Soumya remained a step ahead -- using their feet when necessary and dispatching the loose deliveries to the boundary. The batters also employed sweeps and reverse-sweeps to counter the spinners, a strategy that worked quite well so far.

Batting at strike rates above 100, Saif remained unbeaten on 28 off 21 deliveries while Soumya made 45 off 39, as Bangladesh reached 74 without loss in the first 10 overs.

Bangladesh opt to bat first in third ODI against West Indies

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and final ODI against West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday. 

The Tigers are looking to avoid a fifth straight ODI series defeat. They won the first match of the series convincingly, but the visitors drew level with a thrilling Super Over win in the second game at the same venue. 

Both teams remain unchanged from their second ODI, with the visitors sticking with the ploy of all-spin in the bowling department. 

PLAYING XIs:

Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Mehidy Hasan Miraz(c), Nasum Ahmed, Nurul Hasan(w), Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

West Indies: Alick Athanaze, Brandon King, Keacy Carty, Ackeem Auguste, Shai Hope(w/c), Sherfane Rutherford, Gudakesh Motie, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Akeal Hosein, Khary Pierre