Mustafiz suddenly loses bowling aura
He concedes too many runs in last two ODIs
Sports Reporter
Mustafizur Rahman never went for six per over in an ODI game until the 10th match of his career. He gave away 62 runs in 10 overs in the match against New Zealand but that match he played after coming off a long injury lay-off. So that was understandable.
He recovered from the agony immediate after the next match scalping two for 32 in 9.2 overs. The Fizz as he is adorably called then appeared as Mustafiz of his old in the Test series against Sri Lanka, delivering one of the best spells, sent down by any Bangladeshi bowlers in the second Test. That spell was considered as the catalyst of Bangladeshs tremendous victory over Sri Lanka in its 100th Test match.
Aside the spell, Mustafizur bowled with venom and shrewdness to show he was passing the best time in his career.
If anybody however checks the stats of Mustafizur in the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka, they might get a shock. Its true he has the wickets to his name but what was missing was that measly bowling effort that made him apparent.
He conceded 56 runs in 8.1 overs in the first ODI which Bangladesh won by 90 runs. Mustafizur took three wickets, no wicket in true sense however was a breakthrough wicket but he went for 6.85 runs per over. There was no trademark cutter, cunning slower that could baffle the batsmen the past. Sri Lanka though lost the match; their batsmen played Mustafizur with ease.
In the second match, Sri Lankan batsmen showed they mastered the art of dealing with Mustafizur. There was cutter and slower this time but those were negotiated by Upul Tahranga and Kusal Mendis masterfully. Being challenged vehemently probably for the first time, Mustafizur erred his line and length as he was continuously sending down half-volley and short-of-length deliveries to the delight of the Lankan batsman. The fifth over he delivered for Tharanga and Mendis was most productive for the hosts as the duo milked 20 runs. Mustafizur in his short career never conceded more than 10 runs in an over. Mendis hit him consecutive six and four, the first time, the Fizz tasted such ignominy.
His off-form forced Mashrafe to not to give him his full quota as he delivered eight overs and picked up just one wicket for 60 runs. That was 7.50 runs per over, comfortably his worst bowling figure in his 13-match ODI career.
He however came back with a bang in his third spell, having Dinesh Chandimal leg-before and conceded just three runs. But in the next over again he lost the way when Asela Gunaratne and Milinda Siriwardena comfortably dispatched him across the boundary.
But the story of Mustafizur could have been different had Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah be proactive in their approach. It was Mustafizurs second over when a chance to send back Kusal Mendis was missed. There was genuine edge brought about by which length Mustafiz was bowling. There was just a touch ahead of length and angling away, Mendis looked to drive on the up and the ball flew between Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah at a wide slip and went for four. One of them should have gone for it but no one gave it a shot. From then Mustafizur wasnt bowler that everyone would like to see him.
To the respite of Bangladeshi fans, on a day of Mustafizurs rare failure, captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Taskin Ahmed stood up to cover it. Otherwise it might have worst than what it looked now.
However the rare failure of Mustafizur posed a question how an inform bowler lost his way within just one week. The answer might lie in the position he was coming to bowl. Normally Mustafizur was used to bowl with new ball at the very start of his career. He even bowled with new ball in New Zealand series though was used as No. 2 bowler. But in the first match in this series, he came as No. 5 bowler to bowl and then in second ODI he came up as No. 3 bowler. Even though he has the reputation of doing better with old ball, this fact that it is not working now.
