Bangladesh bring India down to earth
Take 1-0 lead in ODI series with 79-run victory
Syed Mohammad Pithu
Debutant left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman stunned the much-vaunted Indian batting line up with his menacing bowling, as Bangladesh exacted a sweet revenge on the visitors for their controversial defeat in the World Cup quarterfinals, demolishing India by a massive 79 runs in the first match of the three-match ODI series last night.
Mustafizur ran through the India innings, returning figures of 5 for 50 which shot the visitors out for 228 in their pursuit of 308 under the floodlights at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The 19-year pacer became the only second Bangladeshi bowler and eight bowlers overall to claim five-for on debut.
This was the fourth time Bangladesh beating India in 30 ODI encounters and was a big stride to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy. The win also helped the Tigers amassing 91 rating points to overtake West Indies who were on the 7th spot in ICC ODI rankings. His menacing cutter and slower deliveries proved to be decisive in destroying the Indian batting line up despite their openers gave them a solid start.
Four-pronged pace attack of the Tigers came as a surprise for many given the side has long been considered as a spin-oriented bowling side. The ploy, however, worked perfectly as the pacers shared eight wickets amongst them.
Mustafizur also made an impressive debut in Twenty20, grabbing 2 for 20 which scripted a first ever win against Pakistan in the format.
His five-for was complemented by Taskin Ahmed (2 for 21), who was the first Bangladeshi bowler to haul five-for on debut against the same opponent last year, and captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (1 for 53). Only Rubel Hossain remained without any scalps while Shakib Al Hasan bagged two for 33.
Rohit Sharma was the highest scorer for India scoring 63 while Suresh Raina made 40.
Rohit Sharma, whose match-winning century against Bangladesh in the quarterfinal of the World Cup was marred by a controversial no-ball, gave India a fluent start sharing 95 runs in the opening partnership
with Shikhar Dhwan. The latter was dropped twice by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim before he was sent back on 30.
Taskin Ahmed provided the much-needed breakthrough with an accurate short bowling that caused trouble for the Indian batsmen. Taskin followed Dhawans wicket with the prized scalp of Virat Kohli (1).
Those two wickets in just three overs pegged back Indian innings and sparked a sensational collapse as Mustafizur joined the party to rip through the visitors middle order.
Mustafizurs first wicket was Rohit Sharma who failed to judge his cutter to offer a simple catch at mid-off. Sharma struck four fours and a six in his 68 ball-63.
The final blow for India came when Shakib Al Hasan removed MS Dhoni and took Bangladesh closer to a victory.
Before being out, Dhoni staged a drama by shoving Mustafizur who unwillingly obstructed his way standing on the crease. The collision forced Mustafizur leave the turf temporarily.
Including the wicket of Dhoni, India lost five wickets adding just 33 runs to be left at 128-5. Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja (32) then shared 60 runs partnership only to reduce the margin.
Earlier, Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar shared a century partnership as the hosts racked up a respectable 307, its highest ever score against India, before being all out.
Tamim Iqbal was the highest scorer with 60, after his fourth consecutive half century, while Sarkar smashed a fluent 54. They added 102 for the opening partnership to give the side a solid platform.
Shakib Al Hasan who hit 52, kept the rhythm provided by the openers, and provided freedom for Sabbir Rahman ( 41) to hit the ball all around the ground. Tamim and Soumya stunned India with an array of powerful strokes after Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza elected to bat first in the overcast condition.
Fresh from his career best 127 against Pakistan in his previous ODI, Soumya was more attacking than his illustrious colleague.
Soumyas 54 came off just 40 deliveries that included eight fours and a six, but he was run out after a mix-up with Tamim.
However, the rain arrived after 15.4 overs to give India some relief.
The visitors hit back hard after the game resumed as they claimed three wickets, including Tamims, inside 23 overs, to leave Bangladesh 146 for 4.
Tamim hit seven fours and one six in his 62 ball-60. After the 83-run partnership of Shakib and Sabbir for the fifth wicket, India again ran through the Tigers innings taking wickets at regular intervals.
It was captain Mashrafe who hit consecutive two boundaries off Mohit Sharma in the last over to help the side propel past 300.
Off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned figures of 3 for 51 while fast bowlers Bhuvoneshwar Kumar (2-37) and Umesh Yadav (2-58) claimed two wickets apiece.
Bangladesh innings:
Tamim c Rohit b Ashwin 60
Soumya run out 54
Litton lbw b Ashwin 8
Mushfiqur c Rohit b Ashwin 14
Shakib c Jadeja b Yadav 52
Sabbir b Jadeja 41
Nasir c Jadeja b Yadav 34
Mashrafe c Rohit b M Sharma 21
Rubel c M Sharma b Kumar 4
Taskin c Kohli b Kumar 2
Mustafizur not out 0
Extras (b2, lb6, w6, nb3) 17
Total (all out, 49.4 overs) 307
Fall of wickets: 1-102, 2-123, 3-129, 4-146, 5-229, 6-267, 7-282, 8-286, 9-298, 10-307.
BOWLING O M R W
B Kumar 7 0 37 2
U Yadav 8 0 58 2
R Ashwin 10 0 51 3
M Sharma 4.4 0 53 1
S Raina 10 0 40 0
R Jadeja 8 0 48 1
V Kohli 2 0 12 0
India innings:
R Sharma c Mashrafe b Mustafizur 63
S Dhawan c Mushfiqur b Taskin 30
V Kohli c Mushfiqur b Taskin 1
A Rahane c Nasir b Mustafizur 9
S Raina b Mustafizur 40
M Dhoni c Mushfiqur b Shakib 5
R Jadeja c Soumya b Mustafizur 32
R Ashwin c Mushfiqur b Mustafizur 0
B Kumar not out 25
M Sharma c Mushfiqur b Mashrafe 11
U Yadav lbw b Shakib 2
Extras (lb 4, w 6) 10
Total (all out; 46 overs) 228
Fall of wickets: 1-95, 2-101, 3-105, 4-115, 5-128, 6-188, 7-188, 8-195, 9-219, 10-228.
BOWLING O M R W
Mustafizur 9.2 1 50 5
Taskin 6 1 21 2
Mashrafe 10 0 53 1
Rubel 6 0 36 0
Nasir 6.4 0 31 0
Shakib 8 0 33 2
