Bangladesh struggled yet again with their batting but managed to post 227 in 45.5 overs against West Indies in the second ODI at Warner Park in St. Kitts on Tuesday.
The recovery was largely thanks to a record eighth-wicket partnership between Mahmudullah Riyad and Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
After being asked to bat, Bangladesh's top order crumbled to 54/3 and later slumped to 115/7. Early dismissals of Soumya Sarkar (2), Tanzid Hasan Tamim (46 off 33 balls), Litton Das (4), and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1) left the team in a precarious position. Tanzid provided a brief spark with his aggressive 46, including four boundaries and two sixes, but fell victim to the West Indies' disciplined bowling attack.
The middle-order collapse continued with Afif Hossain (24), Zakir Ali (3), and Rishad failing to build partnerships.
It was Mahmudullah (62 off 92 balls) and Tanzim (45 off 62 balls) who turned the tide, adding 92 runs for the eighth wicket—the highest-ever eighth-wicket stand for Bangladesh in ODIs, surpassing the previous record of 84 runs by Mithun and Saifuddin against New Zealand in 2019. Mahmudullah hit four sixes and two boundaries in his composed knock, while Tanzim contributed with four boundaries and two sixes.
Jayden Seales led the West Indies' bowling attack with a brilliant 4/22 in nine overs, while Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase provided crucial support with two wickets each.
Despite the strong recovery, the tail folded quickly after Mahmudullah’s dismissal, with Shoriful Islam chipping in with a brisk 15, including a six and two fours, to push the total past 200.
The target of 228 will require a disciplined bowling effort from Bangladesh to keep the series alive, as they trail 1-0 following a five-wicket loss in the first ODI.
