Bangladesh had tried six different opening pairs in ODIs since the start of 2025. But none of them managed to cross the 50-run mark until Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar stepped up in Mirpur.
On Thursday, in the series decider against the West Indies, Bangladesh’s newest opening pair ended the run drought at the top in style. They put together a commanding partnership of 176 off 152 balls dismantling the Caribbean bowling attack with a masterclass in spin handling. The stand marked Bangladesh’s second-highest opening partnership in ODIs, and the highest ever at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Both openers, however, missed out on well-deserved centuries. Saif, who began his innings by striking back-to-back boundaries off Akeal Hosein in the very first over, was dismissed for 80 after reaching his maiden ODI fifty off just 44 balls. Soumya fell for 91.
Saif looked assured from the start, playing with confidence and authority. His fine innings came to an end when he attempted to slog a flighted delivery from Roston Chase, only to be caught at long-off by Justin Greaves. Throughout his stay, Saif was in sublime touch–sweeping, reverse-sweeping, and even holding the pose after lofting a crossed-seam delivery from Greaves over the ropes. His knock was a display of dominance, even though he fell 20 runs short of a maiden century.
Soumya, making his ODI comeback after February 2025, had shown glimpses of form with a 45-run knock on a turning surface in the second ODI. This time, he looked set for his fourth ODI hundred. His innings was laced with classic sweep and reverse-sweep shots, along with his trademark inside-out drives over the cover region that thrilled the Mirpur crowd.
His delightful innings ended when he miscued a slog sweep off Akeal Hosein to Ackeem Auguste at deep midwicket. Interestingly, Soumya left his bat lying on the pitch the moment he hit that shot, a gesture of disbelief. A dejected Soumya was seen on his knees, hands on his head, while his partner Towhid Hridoy stood stunned beside him.
Still, Soumya’s 91 was nothing short of brilliant on a surface offering turn and grip. He struck seven fours and four sixes, while Saif hit six boundaries and as many sixes. The pair also created another record; it was only the second instance in Bangladesh’s ODI history where both openers scored at least 80 runs at a strike rate above 100 in the same match.
