Bangladesh outclassed West Indies by 74 runs in the first ODI of the three-match series at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladesh scored 207 runs in 49.4 overs, thanks to a composed half-century by Towhid Hridoy and useful contributions from Mahidul Islam Ankon and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Mahidul Islam Ankon fell short of his fifty by four runs Jayden Seales (3/48 in 7 overs) led the West Indies bowling attack, while Roston Chase (2/30 in 10 overs) also bowled well.

While chasing 208, Alick Athanaze and Brandon King gave West Indies a solid start. However, Rishad Hossain turned the game around. He delivered a brilliant performance, taking 6 wickets for 35 runs and dismantling the West Indies’ top order to help Bangladesh secure victory. After a promising start at 51 for 0, the visitors were bowled out for just 133 in 39 overs.

Rishad emerged as the chief tormentor on Dhaka’s unusually dark pitch, becoming only the second legspinner in ODI history to take the first five wickets of an innings. Sri Lanka’s Jeffrey Vandersay remains the only other, achieving six early wickets against India last year in Colombo.

Bangladesh’s Struggles with the Bat

West Indies had controlled the run-rate as Bangladesh lost openers Saif and Soumya Sarkar within the first three overs. Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto added 71 for the third wicket but batted cautiously. Shanto made 32 off 63 balls, while Hridoy reached fifty off 87 balls. Between the 11th and 36th overs, Bangladesh hit just three boundaries.

Mehidy and Mahidul Islam also batted slowly, with Mahidul, on his ODI debut, scoring 46 off 76 balls, including three fours, before Roston Chase bowled him in the 46th over.

Rishad Shines with Bat

Rishad’s contribution with the bat was crucial. He scored a quick 26 off 16 balls, hitting two sixes and a four, helping Bangladesh cross the 200-run mark. His innings ended when Jayden Seales yorked him in the 49th over, but his primary role came with the ball, where he led Bangladesh to a dominant victory.

West Indies Start Strong but Collapse

The West Indies’ openers, Brandon King and Alick Athanaze, put on a solid half-century partnership. King struck a flicked six off Taskin Ahmed in the third over, while Athanaze hit three fours and a six off Tanvir Islam in the fourth over, costing Bangladesh 18 runs. However, Bangladesh tightened their defense from the fifth over onwards.

Rishad Hossain Brilliant Spell

Rishad struck in his first over, the 12th of the chase, trapping Athanaze lbw for 27 off 36 balls. In his fifth over, he removed No.3 Keacy Carty, caught at slip for 9, with Saif Hassan taking a simple catch after previously dropping Carty on 3 off Islam.

Rishad delivered the game-changing blow in the 22nd over, having King caught behind for 44 off 60 balls with a fizzing legbreak, while Sherfane Rutherford fell for a duck off another superb delivery. He completed his five-wicket haul in the 24th over by dismissing Roston Chase for 6, becoming the first Bangladeshi legspinner to achieve this in ODIs.

Support from Mehidy Hasan and Mustafizur

Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanvir Islam also contributed, removing Gudakesh Motie and West Indies captain Shai Hope. Motie was trapped lbw by Mehidy for 3, while Hope fell to a catch by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan. Romario Shepherd tried to force the pace but was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman in the 35th over, who also removed Justin Greaves for 12. Rishad sealed the victory by taking Jayden Seales’ wicket, caught by Mehidy at slip, giving the Bangladesh captain only his second win in 11 ODIs.

Brief Scorecard