Can Bangladesh avoid falling into their own trap?

The Bangladesh-West Indies three-match ODI series looked dull and one-sided when the hosts won the opening game by 74 runs, capitalising on the familiar 'Mirpur formula'.

But the series has since come alive, setting up a thrilling finale on Thursday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, with the home side suddenly facing a crisis of confidence after the visitors' swift adaptation to the spin-heavy conditions.

The Mirpur pitch -- resembling a puzzle board with uneven bounce, variable pace and turn from both ends -- has reduced the contest to a battle of spin and survival. The team that handles the slow bowling better is almost certain to walk away with the trophy.

Bangladesh began brightly as their spinners did the devil's work, but West Indies have since turned the tables with remarkable speed. Their response in the second ODI -- relying entirely on spin for all 50 overs -- not only neutralised Bangladesh's batting but nearly earned them a regulation win before the game ended in a Super Over thriller.

To West Indies' credit, they have shown growing belief in alien conditions. Captain Shai Hope led from the front with a composed half-century, while part-time offspinner Alick Athanaze emerged as their most effective bowler with 2 for 14 in ten overs. The trio of Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase and Khary Pierre offered control, even if Gudakesh Motie leaked runs at the death. The challenge now is to balance that control with sharper batting, as several middle-order batters failed to build on promising starts.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be worried about their stagnating batting rhythm. Despite posting 213 in the last game, their dot-ball percentage of 62.04 highlights a lack of strike rotation -- a major weakness on Mirpur surfaces where boundaries are scarce.

The top three -- Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar -- must set the tone, while the middle order needs to turn starts into substance. Rishad Hossain's late fireworks have been a saving grace, but the team cannot afford another sluggish start.

Their bowlers have largely held their own, yet Bangladesh will know that losing the spin battle at home would sting deeply. For the hosts, it's no longer just about winning the series -- it's about protecting their reputation in familiar conditions and justifying their much-talked-about motto of improving their rankings ahead of the 2027 World Cup qualification.

As the decider looms, the question is clear: can Bangladesh avoid falling into their own trap?