In both 2018 and 2022, Bangladesh won the ODI series during their tours of the West Indies. However, this time in the Caribbean, Bangladesh started the ODI series with a defeat. In St. Kitts, brilliant innings by Sherfane Rutherford and Shai Hope helped the West Indies chase Bangladesh’s 294 runs with 14 balls to spare. With this win, the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Does this mean the West Indies have already secured the series?
Looking at history, it’s fair to bet on a West Indies series win. Bangladesh has never won an ODI series away from home after losing the first match. The most recent example of this was the Afghanistan series in Sharjah last month. The remaining two ODIs in St. Kitts, scheduled for today and tomorrow, present an opportunity for Bangladesh to make history.
Out of 39 ODI series played away from home, Bangladesh has won 9, lost 27, and drawn 3. Bangladesh played its first bilateral ODI series outside the country in 2001 during the Zimbabwe tour. From that series up to this West Indies tour, they have competed in 39 multi-match ODI series abroad. Out of the 9 series wins, Bangladesh won the first match in 8 of them. The exception was the 2023 series against Ireland in England. In that series, Bangladesh didn’t lose the first match; it was abandoned due to rain in Chelmsford. Bangladesh went on to win the next two matches and returned home victorious.
Whenever Bangladesh has lost the first match of an away series, they’ve gone on to lose the series as well. On the other hand, even when they start with a win, it hasn’t always guaranteed a series victory. Out of the 39 ODI series abroad, Bangladesh started with a win in 11 of them. They won 8 of those series, lost 2, and drew 1.
The two series Bangladesh lost despite winning the first match were both in Zimbabwe—in 2004 and 2013. In 2004, Bangladesh’s win in the first match in Harare was significant as it broke their international record of 75 consecutive winless matches (47 ODIs). However, Zimbabwe won the next two matches to claim the series. The story repeated in 2013, as Bangladesh started with a win in Bulawayo but lost the last two matches.
In 2017, Bangladesh also failed to win an ODI series after a strong start in Sri Lanka. They beat Sri Lanka by 90 runs in Dambulla in the first match. The second match at the same venue was abandoned due to rain, and Sri Lanka leveled the series with a win in Colombo.
Bangladesh’s performance abroad has improved over time, with notable series wins against teams like Kenya in 2006, Zimbabwe in 2007, the West Indies in 2009, and South Africa in 2022. However, breaking the pattern of losing a series after dropping the first match remains an elusive milestone.
