Sarkar 91, Saif 80 power Bangladesh to 296 against West Indies

Bangladesh banished any doubts raised by the slow, dark pitch at Mirpur with an imposing 296 for 8 against West Indies in the third and final ODI, powered by a blistering 176-run opening stand between Soumya Sarkar and Saif Hassan.

Saif’s maiden ODI fifty was a statement of intent as he smashed 6 sixes and 6 fours in a 72-ball 80, while Sarkar’s 91 off 86 balls featured 7 boundaries and 4 sixes at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Their stand was Bangladesh’s second-highest for the opening wicket, and their first century partnership at the venue in a decade. The hosts also equalled their record for most sixes in an ODI innings, hitting 14.

Saif launched the charge from the first over, driving Akeal Hosein straight and lofting him over cover. Sarkar joined in by reverse-hitting Roston Chase for two sixes.

Saif’s aggression continued against Justin Greaves, willowing him elegantly over mid-off and driving through the line for the shot of the day. A towering six off Gudakesh Motie brought up the century stand, and a firm drive over mid-on sealed Saif’s maiden fifty.

Soumya matched his partner’s fluency, dispatching Khary Pierre over long-on and then punishing Motie with a straight six and a brutal pull to move into the 90s.

The stand finally broke on 176 when Saif holed out to Greaves in the 26^th over; Soumya departed three overs later, visibly crestfallen at missing his century.

Towhid Hridoy (28) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (44) steadied the innings before Akeal’s triple strike in the 46^th over derailed Bangladesh’s late push.

Despite losing 7 wickets for 85 runs, their total of 296 remains formidable on a turning track—one the West Indies made harder for themselves by spilling six catches.