Collected photo

DHAKA, Oct 23, 2025 (BSS)- The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 
saw a 100-run plus opening partnership for the first time since 2015 when 
Bangladesh's opening pair Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar combined for a 176-
run in the series deciding third ODI against West Indies today.

The record itself was the testament of how tougher it was to get going in 
Mirpur wicket over the years.

Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes was the last pair to add 147 runs at the Sher-e-
Bangla National Cricket Stadium, considered as the "Home of Cricket" in 2015 
during the third ODI against Zimbabwe.

This is also the Bangladesh first 100-run plus opening partnership since 
2023, when Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal added 102 runs in a match against 
Ireland in Sylhet.

Soumya and Saif's 176-run partnership was the second best in the opening 
stand behind Tamim and Liton Das' 292 against Zimbabwe in Sylhet in 2020.

Soumya, who raised his 14th fifty and sixth against the West Indies was 
dismissed after hammering 86 ball-91 with seven fours and four sixes.

Saif, meanwhile, earned his maiden 50 but like Soumya he also missed out a 
ton after being out on 80. Saif played 72 balls and smashed six fours and as 
many sixes.