Bangladesh pulled off an incredible one-wicket victory over India in the first of a three-match ODI series in Mirpur on Sunday. The victory was sealed by a remarkable 51-run partnership, the fourth highest in ODI, between Mehidy Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman for the last wicket, propelling the hosts forward in the series. Despite a dismal batting performance that saw Bangladesh lose five wickets for eight runs in the span of 27 balls – from 128/4 to 136/9 -, a win was unexpected for the Tigers. But Mehidy and Mustafizur led the hosts to a memorable victory against the odds.
Mehidy remained unbeaten with 38 runs off 39 balls, featuring four fours and two sixes. Mustafizur also remained not out after scoring 10 runs off 11 balls. In pursuit of 187, Bangladesh got off to a slow start as they lost four wickets within 95 runs. Liton Das top-scored among the top-order batters with 41 runs off 63 balls, while Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismissed off the first ball, prodding a Dipak Chahar delivery towards the first slip.
Liton and Anamaul Haque Bijoy managed to steady the ship with a 26-run partnership before Anamul had a close call when the umpire overturned a lbw call after the third umpire determined the ball was missing the leg-stump. However, Anamul could not make the most of his chances, eventually getting out for 14 off 29 balls. Shakib Al Hasan was the second wicket to fall prey to Washington Sundar after scoring 29 runs.
In the fifth wicket, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim were guiding the Tigers, but they were able to add 33 runs off 69 balls. Their ultra-slow batting approach put Bangladesh into big trouble, which was intensified after their dismissal in two balls- the last ball of the 35th and the first of the 36th over.The last-ditch partnership between Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz was Bangladesh’s hope of chasing down the target on a slow surface that challenged the batters to stay patient.
Afif Hossain was dismissed by debutant Kuldeep Sen for 6, but Mehidy Hasan showed incredible grit with the bat on the late afternoon. He bravely slogged his way through and fortune favoured his courage as the Indian wicketkeeper missed a catch when Mehidy skied the ball, proving to be the turning point that sealed Bangladesh’s victory. Bangladesh reached their target of 187 in 46 overs, eventually sealing a thrilling one-wicket victory.
Mohammed Siraj was the pick of bowlers for India with three wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs. Kuldeep and Washington also produced notable bowling performances, claiming two wickets each. Earlier, the stage was for Shakib. He picked up his maiden five-wicket haul against India on a surface that did not really offer much help to spin the ball. Shakib got some occasional spin, though, but he was more clever to land his ball in an area that seemed to be difficult for the Indian batters.
Some tried to face Shakib from inside the line, and some went outside the line. But it was not easy for them to deal with Shakib’s skillful bowling display.The Bangladesh all-rounder, Shakib, set the tone for the match with a bang in his very first over, claiming the scalps of Indian captain Rohit Sharma and their star batsman Virat Kohli. He continued to dominate the Indian batting line-up, further taking two wickets in his seventh over to become the best left-arm spinner against India in ODIs.
In doing so, Shakib surpassed former English spinner, Ashley Giles, to register the best innings bowling figures against India by a left-arm spinner. Giles had taken five wickets for 57 runs back in 2002 in Delhi.
Shakib surprised Rohit with a straight delivery that he had been expecting to spin – costing him his stumps for 27 off 31 balls. Moments after in the same over, Shakib had another triumph as Bangladesh’s newly appointed ODI captain Liton Das leapt to his right and grasped an incredible catch at cover that the crowd of Mirpur would remember for years to come. Virat was clearly taken aback by Liton’s extraordinary fielding effort that departed him on 9 runs off 15 balls.
Ebadot Hossain, the right-arm pacer who was playing only his second ODI, also joined Shakib’s party and bagged four wickets for 47 runs- his best in his short ODI career. In an impressive display of bowling by Bangladesh, only Lokesh Rahul managed to show some resistance on a tricky surface that was difficult for batters. He scored 73 off 70 balls with five fours and four sixes, but India ultimately fell short in the chase to secure victory.
