WEB DESK
In a thrilling match played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur in Dhaka on Sunday, India almost won the ODI against Bangladesh before the tail-enders dashed its hopes with a brilliant performance securing one wicket victory for Bangladesh.
Filled with gripping ups and downs, India started off with a very modest score of 186. However, when Bangladesh came to play, Indian bowlers kept Bangladesh batters under tight leash for most of the innings with some tight bowling by the Indian team for the major part of the match.
The match seemed to have gone decisively in favour of India in 39th over after Bangladesh lost their 7th wicket at 134 when Siraj caught Afif off Kuldeep’s delivery. It was a scene to watch the enthusiastic fans of Bangladesh leaving the stadium in hordes and Indian fans, though small in number, at the jam packed stadium, exuberant with the impending victory. Bangladesh tottered further with two more wickets falling in quick succession. Ebadot was hit wicket on a Kuldeep delivery to drive down Bangladesh score to 135/8 followed by Hasan, LBW off Siraj in the 40th over. The scoreboard at the time read 136/9.
Then the miracle happened with the tailenders Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman rampaging through the Indian bowling. In a brilliant show of aggression and defence, when required, the final pair of Miraz and Mustafizur brought India to its knees forcing it to concede the match with one wicket to spare. Miraz remained unbeaten with 38 runs off 39 balls (four fours and two sixes) while Mustafizur provided able support to him on the other side of the wicket hitting 10 off 11 balls. The winning pair of Miraz and Mustafizur scored an unbeaten partnership of 51 runs. Bangladeshi fans waving the red and green flag of the country went berserk with joy as the stadium rent with their victory cry.
Under the unexpected onslaught of the final pair of Bangladeshi tailenders, Indian bowling and fielding crumbled. Miraz scored two sixes off the bowling of Kuldeep who conceded 14 runs in one over. Bangladesh reached their 150 off 244 balls (41st over). A dropped catch in 43rd over off the ball of Miraz, lacklustre bowling from India towards the end gave and some sloppy fielding gave away the victory to Bangladesh which looked certain to lose at one point of time.
Earlier, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib gave a superb performance with the ball claiming 5 wickets for 36 which contributed in restricting India to 186 in 41.2 overs. Peer Ebador Hossain claimed 4/47 leaving the lone wicket to off-spinner Miraz. From the Indian side only K L Rahul was able to score a nice 73 off 70 balls.