DHAKA, Oct 23, 2025 (BSS) - West Indies captain Shai Hope admitted that his team failed to click as a batting group in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, which they eventually lost 2-1.

The tourists fought admirably to win the Super Over in the second game to level the series after enduring a crushing 74-run defeat in the first match.

Their grit and determination raised hopes of an even contest on the spin-friendly surface in the series-deciding game, but they eventually succumbed, losing by a record 179 runs.

"We obviously would have wanted to win this series, but it didn't happen for us today. It's been a tough series, especially for us as batters, but there are always lessons to learn," Hope said after the third match here today.

Once Bangladesh posted 296-8 after opting to bat first, West Indies' chances of fighting for a series victory looked bleak.

Hope credited Bangladesh's openers, who laid the platform with a 176-run partnership. Soumya Sarkar hammered a blitzkrieg 91 and Saif Hasan made an equally aggressive 80, scripting the first 100-run-plus opening partnership by Bangladesh openers since 2023.

It was also the first 100-plus partnership at Mirpur since 2015.

"Credit must be given to their openers, especially at the start. It's been tough hours for the batters in general during the series, but we must acknowledge those who came out and really showed impetus at the beginning of the innings," Hope said, also acknowledging mistakes by his bowlers.

"I don't think we bowled as well as we could, but these are things we need to critically assess with our players. When we play in series like this, in conditions like these, it's challenging. Bangladesh batted well, bowled well, and put us under pressure."

Hope said that after conceding such a big total, it was nearly impossible to get back into the game.

"It was very difficult to pull the game back. It was tough. I still think it was like a 170-180 surface. If you give them so many runs, it forces the batters to chase, which makes it difficult. But regardless of what the opposition sets, we have to find a way to score," he opined.

"If the bowlers don't do it in a particular situation, then batters have to step up, and we didn't do that today. It's a different series, different format, same mindset. You have to come here to win games."

West Indies will play a three-match T20 series against Bangladesh in Chattogram, starting October 27. Hope hopes to perform better.

"Every single game is important. But again, we'll have to get to Chattogram, see what the surface is like, adapt, assess, and hopefully play better cricket in that series," he said.