West Indies Create History with All-Spin Attack and Dramatic Super Over Victory Against Bangladesh
In an extraordinary display of tactical brilliance and nerve, West Indies pulled off a stunning super over victory against Bangladesh in Mirpur, marking a historic moment in one-day international cricket. The Caribbean side became the first team in ODI history to bowl all 50 overs using only spin bowlers — a bold move that paid off spectacularly as they edged Bangladesh by a single run after scores were tied at 213 apiece.
Score Summary
Bangladesh: 213-7 (50 overs) — Soumya Sarkar 45; Gudakesh Motie 3-65
West Indies: 213-9 (50 overs) — Shai Hope 53; Rishad Hossain 3-42
Result: West Indies won by one run in the super over
A Historic All-Spin Bowling Strategy
The West Indies have long been renowned for their intimidating pace attack, producing legends like Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, and Courtney Walsh. But in Mirpur, the visitors opted for a completely different approach — 50 consecutive overs of spin bowling, something never before witnessed in ODI cricket.
With the pitch expected to offer slow turn and low bounce, captain Shai Hope made the radical decision to drop fast bowler Jayden Seales and rely entirely on spin options. The decision came after West Indies’ heavy defeat in the first ODI, where Bangladesh’s spinners had dominated.
Hope opened the bowling with Akeal Hosein, a left-arm spinner, and Roston Chase, a part-time off-spinner. Soon after, Khary Pierre and Gudakesh Motie joined the attack, both of whom are left-arm orthodox bowlers. Motie, the pick of the bowlers, claimed 3-65 from his 10 overs, while Hosein and Chase controlled the flow of runs expertly.
To complete the spin puzzle, Alick Athanaze, usually known for his batting, bowled a full 10-over spell, returning an impressive 2-14. It was a gamble that turned into a masterstroke.
Bangladesh Struggle Against Relentless Spin
Playing on their home turf, Bangladesh are known to be one of the strongest teams in world cricket when facing spin, especially in Mirpur’s slow, dusty conditions. However, the relentless pressure from the West Indies spinners kept them from accelerating at any point.
Soumya Sarkar (45) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (37) were the only batters to get meaningful starts, but both failed to convert them into big scores. Every time a partnership seemed to be building, the West Indian spinners found a way to break it.
Despite the turning surface, the average deviation recorded during the innings was only 3.55 degrees, slightly less than in the first ODI — a surprising statistic given how dominant spin bowling appeared.
Bangladesh eventually crawled to 213-7, with Motie’s left-arm spin and Athanaze’s accuracy keeping the hosts under constant pressure.
A Nervy Chase for the West Indies
In reply, the West Indies’ innings was anything but straightforward. Facing Bangladesh’s formidable spin attack led by Rishad Hossain (3-42) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the visitors found themselves in deep trouble at 133-7.
Captain Shai Hope once again proved his value, anchoring the innings with a calm and composed 53 not out. His leadership and composure under pressure ensured that West Indies never completely lost hope, even as wickets tumbled around him.
The lower order — including Athanaze, Hosein, and Pierre — chipped in with small but crucial runs to push the game closer. Still, as the final over began, West Indies required five runs from six balls with two wickets in hand.
Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman, the only frontline pacer in the match, was given the ball. His clever variations brought the equation down to three runs needed from the final delivery.
Number 11 Khary Pierre, who had never faced such pressure before, went for a desperate heave. The ball looped towards square leg, where wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan sprinted in but dropped the catch, allowing the West Indies batters to scamper back for two runs. The match ended in a tie, setting the stage for a dramatic super over.
Super Over Drama in Mirpur
In the super over, the West Indies batted first and managed to score 11 runs, thanks to a boundary from Shai Hope and smart running between the wickets.
Bangladesh needed 12 runs to win from their six deliveries — a chase well within their reach on paper. However, West Indies stuck with their successful formula, entrusting the responsibility to Akeal Hosein, who had already bowled brilliantly in regulation time.
Hosein began the over with a wide and then a no-ball, giving Bangladesh an early advantage. But he quickly regained control, bowling tight lines that frustrated the batters. With three runs needed off the final delivery, Hosein kept his nerve, conceding just one, and sealing a one-run victory for the visitors.
The celebrations were euphoric. The entire West Indies dugout stormed the field as players hugged each other, ecstatic after pulling off one of the most remarkable wins in recent ODI history.
A Tactical Masterstroke from Shai Hope
Shai Hope’s leadership and tactical flexibility earned widespread praise after the match. Choosing to abandon the team’s traditional pace-heavy strategy in favor of spin dominance was a bold gamble, especially given the team’s lack of experience with such an approach.
“It was a collective decision,” Hope said in the post-match presentation. “We looked at the pitch and felt spin was the way to go. Everyone executed perfectly, and that’s what brought us this result.”
Cricket analysts were quick to note the significance of the West Indies’ decision, calling it a “historic shift” in how teams may approach subcontinental conditions in the future.
Bangladesh Left to Regret Missed Chances
For Bangladesh, the loss was heartbreaking. Playing in familiar conditions, they had numerous opportunities to seal the win but failed to capitalize — most notably Nurul Hasan’s dropped catch on the final ball of regulation play.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his disappointment but credited West Indies for their resilience.
“We had the game in our hands,” Shanto admitted. “One small mistake cost us dearly, but that’s cricket. We’ll learn from this and come back stronger in the next match.”
Series Decider Set for Thursday
With the series now tied at 1-1, the third and final ODI — also in Mirpur — promises to be a thrilling decider. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance, but the spotlight will once again be on the spinners, who have completely dominated proceedings so far.
As the cricketing world marvels at West Indies’ innovative strategy and nerve under pressure, Thursday’s match will determine whether this experiment marks a new era for Caribbean cricket — or remains a one-off moment of tactical genius.