|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh’s hope to seal the three-match ODI series with a match to go came to an abrupt end as West Indies opener Shai Hope played one of the best innings in the one-day cricket history to script his side’s four-wicket victory on Tuesday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Hope smashed an epic 144-ball 146 not out to help West Indies knock off the target with two balls to spare after Bangladesh put up 255 for seven.

Hope single-handedly thwarted Bangladesh to keep the side’s hopes alive in the series when the hosts threatened to take away the match by exposing West Indies’ lower order with the team at 185 for six. But the man from Barbados shared an unbeaten 71 off 64 with Keemo Paul for the seventh wicket, in which Paul contributed only 18.

With West Indies needing 22 off 12, Hope brought the victory in eye sight, by hitting Mustafizur for 16 runs in the penultimate over, including three fours—all of which came through some perfectly manufactured shot.

His match defining knock was laced with a dozen of boundaries and three sixes that also kept them in track of winning their first bilateral ODI series since their victory against Bangladesh in 2014 at home.

West Indies, however, had an ordinary start with Chadrapaul Hemraj (3), who replaced Keiran Powell in the side and failed to make his chance count. Hope found support in Darren Bravo (27) and Marlon Samuels (26) with whom he shared two important partnerships to ensure West Indies wouldn’t have any collapse like they had in the first match.

He and Bravo combined for a 65-run before fast bowler Rubel Hossain (2/57) broke through with the wicket of Bravo (27). But with the help of Samuels, with whom he shared 62-run for the third wicket, Hope kept the asking run rate under control.

Once paceman Mustafizur Rahman (2/63) had Samuels caught by Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh bowlers hit back in the match, taking wickets at regular intervals.

But Hope remained unfazed. He brought up his third century with a single through cover point off 118 balls and grew with confidence, despite wickets were tumbling around him.

He got the much-needed support in the form of Keemo Paul and held the nerve to steer the side home.

But the platform was set by West Indies fast bowlers, who bowled with controlled aggression towards the death to deny Bangladesh making carnage. The Tigers managed to score just 26 runs in the last five overs as fast bowlers Kemar Roach (1/39) and Oshane Thomas (3/54) varied their pace quite cleverly to curb the batsmen’s aggression.