Opener Ishan Kishan struck a double century as India avoided a clean sweep, securing a massive 227-run victory against Bangladesh in the third and final ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Saturday. Kishan also became the first batter in this world to convert his maiden century to a double century and broke a number of records to put Bangladesh in sword as he blasted 210 off 126, smashing 24 fours and 10 towering sixes.Thanks to his knock, India compiled a massive 409-8 and then their bowlers dismissed Bangladesh for just 182 in 34 overs, 28 runs less than Kishan alone put on to hand them the second biggest ODI defeat.
Such was the magnitude of his century that it put Virat Kohli in the shed. Kohli got his first ODI century since August, 2019 when he made 113 off 91 with 11 fours and two sixes. It was his 44th ODI century and 72 overall, which he went past Australian great Ricky Ponting in terms of International centuries but failed to draw the attention of the people just due to Kishan’s entertaining knock. As Bangladesh are eying to sweep India 3-0, following their one-wicket and 5-run victory in the first two ODIs, Kishan not only dented the hope but also broke a number of records to help India avoid the ignominious whitewash.
He hit his double century off just 126 balls, which is the fastest in ODI, eclipsing Chris Gayle’s 138 ball-double centuries against Zimbabwe in 2015 World Cup. Kishan became also the youngest man to hit double century at the age of just 24 years and 145 days. The previous youngest was Rohit Sharma who was 26 years and 186 days when he hit his first double century against Australia in 2013. It was also the highest individual total against Bangladesh, breaking Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry’s 194 not out.
India’s 409-8 was not only the highest total against Bangladesh, going past England 391-4, but also it was the first 400-plus total on Bangladesh’s soil. Bangladesh won the toss and considering dew factor at night chose to bowl first. The home side had a good start as Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed Shikhar Dhawan for 3 to leave India 15-1 in the fifth over.
But they were not prepared to swallow to what happened then. Kohli who was dismissed twice in single digit figure in the first two ODIs, looked to regain his Midas touch while Kishan came out of the shell to start hitting Bangladeshi bowlers all corner of the park.
Bangladesh bowlers became disarray in the face of such a brutal attack from Kishan who was playing his first game against the Tigers. He and Kohli then put 290-run partnership, the highest against Bangladesh for any wicket to pave the platform of 400-plus total. Kishan had a comparatively slow start as he brought up his half-century off 49 balls before pacing the innings.
Later, he raised his century off 85 balls, sweeping occasional bowler Afif fiercely for a boundary over backward square leg. The next 50 came off just 18 balls as Kishan reached his 150 off 103, slog-sweeping Mehidy Hasan with deep backward square leg for six. Overall he struck 24 fours and 10 sixes, which is also highest number of boundaries against Bangladesh.
Kohli, who got out with two single digit figures in first two matches in India’s one-wicket and five-run loss, also had a slow start before switching the gear. After bringing up half-century off 54 balls, he raised his ton off 85 balls, hitting pacer Ebadot Hossain six over fine leg. However, Taskin Ahmed who returned to the best XI after recovering from his back pain, broke the partnership, dismissing Kishan. Soon after Shakib removed Kohli to put a brake on India’s high-octane batting.
Bangladesh bowlers then looked to take some control before, getting rid of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul cheaply. But Washington Sundar hit 27 ball-37 and Axa Paten made 17 ball-20 as India propelled past 400. Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan were the only two bowlers who were able to keep economy rate under seven in the face of whirlwind batting. Taskin, Shakib and Ebadot, however, snapped up two wickets apiece.
Bangladesh lost wickets at regular interval in the chase of massive target. Shakib Al Hasan scored team-high 43 and captain Liton Das made 29. Pacer Shardul Thakur (3-30) and left-arm spinner Axar Patel (2-22) ripped through Bangladesh batting, after Mohammed Siraj broke through with the wicket Anamul Haque. Fast bowler Umran Malik who returned figures of 2-43 joined them to give India the third largest victory as Bangladesh was left satisfied with 2-1 result instead of 3-0 sweep.
