Mahmudullah frustrates English bowlers
Bangladesh top order fails again
Sports Reporter
Mahmudullah Riyad seemed to have found the England bowlers particularly to his likings. In a must win match when the other batsmen struggled to deal with English bowlers slower and short balls properly, he played with serenity and assured hands to lay a platform of handy total in a wicket that contained fair amount of turn.
As he scored an unbeaten 21, in a match winning cause against England during the 2011 World Cup in Citation, his love affair with the team began. Thereafter in their next encounter after four years, Riyad became the first Bangladeshi batsman to hit a century in the World Cup. That 103 runs caused so much pain to England as they were thrown out of the tournament as a result of that decisive innings. In the first match he though made just 25 runs, he amended it with 75 off 88 in the second ODI yesterday. Thereby his average stands against this team to 44.25, almost 10 higher than his career average of 34.31. Against the team he had played at least 10 matches he has second best average against them. He has the best average against India (44.83), slightly better than that of England.
Bangladesh began worst way in the second game what turned out to be a do or die match for them as they lost two openers for just 26. Sabbir Rahman then followed the openers to leave the side in precarious 39 for three.
Riyad then found a support from Mushfiqur Rahim and it was expected that the senior two batsmen would help the side bail out of danger. They started promisingly, specially the out-of-form Mushfiqur Rahim who hit consecutive two boundaries in his first two balls. If the first boundary was lucky for him, the second one was a treat to watch, indicating Mushfiqur could get back to his form. Indeed it was needed and it mattered at that moment.
Rahim who perished to slog-sweep shot in the recent time, curbed that to tick the scoreboard with series of single and occasional boundaries but played the most wretched shot to throw away his wicket. His injudicious pull when the side was yet to recover from the initial collapse left Bangladesh in further troublesome 89 for four. Shakib Al Hasan who blasted 55 ball-79 in the first game could score just three. When the senior batsmen gifted their wickets in most ugly fashion, it was bound to cause an adverse impact on Riyad but he still held his composure. He found the runs with ease, playing with soft hands what the situation and the wicket demanded.
He found another ably supporter in young Mosaddek Hossain Saikat with whom he combined for a 48 runs partnership. Considering the situation the partnership was really effective but when they were about to take the bowlers in disdain, Riyad got dismissed unfortunately as he tried to paddle-sweep leg-spinner Adil Rashid. He got angry on him but seemed to have forgotten that the DRS is in the place.
But it couldnt give him the lifeline since the snicko confirmed no glove involved though in naked eye it seemed it touched the glove. However the platform he gave, it was utilised by captainMashrafe Bin Mortaza who smashed 29 ball-44 to take the side in a safe distance.
