Bangladesh held its nerve to beat West Indies by two wickets and win only a second one-day international cricket series between them on Saturday.
A day after the home team failed to chase down 211 and West Indies tied the series 2-2, Bangladesh labored to surpass West Indies’ total of 217.
But Nasir Hossain’s second boundary, a cut off Andre Russell, earned Bangladesh the victory and set off partying by the home team and the crowd of 24,000, among them Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
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Bangladesh finished on 221-8 in 44 overs, after West Indies was all out for 217 in the 48th.
The only previous one-day series Bangladesh won against West Indies was in 2009 in the Caribbean.
Mahmudullah, the man of the match, and captain Mushfiqur Rahim shared a key 91-run, fourth-wicket partnership.
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They came together after Bangladesh was reduced to 30-3. Mahmudullah made 48 before he was bowled by Sunil Narine for 48 off 45 balls, including seven boundaries. Less than overs later, Mushfiqur was out, too, also bowled by Narine. Mushfiqur scored 44 off 56 balls, also with seven fours. In the same 25th over, Mominul Haque, before he’d scored, was dropped by West Indies captain Darren Sammy at short cover.
Mominul Haque (25) and Hossain (39 not out) would lead Bangladesh to the brink of victory before Haque was lbw to Narine at 186-6 in the 39th over.
Kemar Roach claimed the wickets of Sohag Gazi (19) and Abdur Razzak (duck) in the same over, but at 215-8, Bangladesh was virtually home.
“I was worried when I got out,” Mahmudullah said, “but Nasir played well. I was nervous in the dressing room.”
Roach took 5-56 and Narine 3-38, and Sammy said the damage was done earlier when West Indies should have put up a more competitive 240 or so.
Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo smashed half centuries to steer West Indies out of early trouble.
Pollard hit 85 and Bravo 51 in a 132-run stand for the fourth wicket after the tourists lost three early wickets for 17 runs.
Pollard belted eight sixes and five boundaries in 74 balls before he was bowled by part-time spinner Mominul Haque.
Bravo faced 108 balls and hit three boundaries and a six.
Opener Chris Gayle’s poor form continued, scoring 2 before being caught by Nasir Hossain off Shafiul Islam.
Islam, playing his first match in the series, claimed 3-31, Mominul Haque took 2-14 and Mahmudullah 2-38.
The tour finishes with a Twenty20 on the same ground on Monday.