NOVEMBER 3, 2019
Brief Scorecard: Bangladesh 154 for 3 (Mushfiqur 60*) beat India 148 for 6 (Dhawan 41, Aminul 2-22) seven wickets
DELHI, INDIA – Mushfiqur Rahim’s perfectly paced, unbeaten 60 took Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win over India, their first against these opponents in nine attempts. Mushfiqur’s late charge against Khaleel Ahmed completely changed the game in Delhi, so much so that the end was almost a formality. The 1-0 win would also be a massive boost to a cricket team that has been reeling after Shakib Al Hasan was banned for a year last week, not to mention the rift created by the players’ strike against the BCB.
Mushfiqur brings it back
Mushfiqur employed the pull shot, a scoop and two scythes through point to reduce Bangladesh’s chase from 20 off 10 balls to a mere four runs in the last over. Khaleel was the bowler bearing the brunt of Mushfiqur’s calculated hits, which came quite late, given how set he was at the crease up until that point. But in the end, it was a masterstroke to hold back his shots till that point, as Bangladesh savoured their big moment.
The final touches
The debutant Shivam Dube was handed the ball in the last over, his medium pace a strange choice given the history between these two sides and last-over finishes. Dube was ineffective, as Mahmudullah ran hard to complete two runs off the second ball, before getting a wide and then hammering one over wide long-on for six.
India don’t start quickly
When India batted first, Rohit Sharma was trapped lbw by a Shafiul Islam delivery that moved back in slightly in the first over. The home side’s rhythm was further dented when KL Rahul bunted legspinner Aminul Islam’s half-tracker to Mahmudullah at short cover.
Shreyas Iyer pushed the run-rate but he too fell to Aminul, mistiming a lofted drive, having struck a four and two sixes in his 13-ball 22. At the other end, Shikhar Dhawan set his sights to bat through the innings, but Rishabh Pant’s poor call for a second run cost him, and India, dearly. Dhawan top-scored with 41, but it came off 42 balls.
Afif Hossain then leapt high to complete a fine return catch to dismiss Dube before Pant fell trying to clear long-on, having made 27 off 26 balls.
Courtesy/Source: ESPNCricinfo
