‘One boundary could have changed things’

Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz admitted that the Super Over experience was a new one for the Tigers, but rued the absence of a boundary which, he felt, could have "changed things" in their narrow defeat against the West Indies in the second ODI in Mirpur on Tuesday.

After posting 213-7 on the back of Rishad Hossain's blistering 14-ball 39, Bangladesh faltered in their first-ever Super Over in any format, allowing the visitors to level the three-match series 1-1.

The game went into a Super Over following a costly error from wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan, who dropped Khary Pierre off the final delivery of the 50th over -- bowled by Saif Hassan -- enabling the left-hander to complete a double and force the game into a Super Over. 

The West Indies managed 10 runs in the Super Over bowled by Mustafizur Rahman, with Shai Hope remaining unbeaten on seven off three balls and Sherfane Rutherford adding three off two. In reply, Akeal Hosein held his nerve to restrict Bangladesh to nine runs for the loss of one, sealing victory for the visitors.

Despite being aided by two wides, a no-ball, and a leg bye in the Super Over, Bangladesh failed to make use of the opportunities. Soumya Sarkar scored three off three balls, while Saif Hassan managed two off three. Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to make contact with his bat but ran a leg bye before Saif could not find the boundary, with the Tigers needing three to win off the final delivery.

"It was a new experience for us -- the first-ever Super Over," Miraz said in the post-match presentation. "I think it was not an easy surface to bat on. Rishad is doing very well at the moment. All batters were struggling, but he was confident and batted really well.

"In the Super Over, we needed 10 [11], and one boundary could have changed things."

Earlier, Soumya Sarkar top-scored for Bangladesh with 45 off 89 balls, striking three fours and a six. Shanto made 15 off 21, while Saif scored six off 16. Had it not been for Rishad's audacious knock, Bangladesh would've been looking at a total way under 200.

For the visitors, skipper Shai Hope anchored the chase with the only half-century of the match, scoring 53 off 67 balls, as the West Indies matched Bangladesh's 213-run total.

With five runs needed off the final over, Saif bowled two dots before conceding a single. Hope then took another single, leaving No. 10 batter Akeal Hosein (16 off 17) -- playing his first game of the tour -- on strike. Saif dismissed Hosein, bowling him between his legs, bringing Pierre to the crease with three required from the final ball.

Pierre top-edged the last delivery towards square leg, where Sohan failed to hold on. Unable to relay the ball quickly to Mustafizur at the stumps, he allowed Pierre and Hope to complete two runs, taking the game into a Super Over.

The two sides will meet again on Thursday in the series decider at the same venue.