Bangladesh clinch series after sealing another thriller
Bangladesh completed a sensational win to clinch the ODI series 2-0 after a clinical performance with the ball in defence of 271, a total that came on the back of more batting heroics from Mehidy Hasan who finished with his maiden ODI hundred. A late cameo from Rohit Sharma, who finished with an unbeaten 51 went in vain as Bangladesh kept alive their stellar home record - they haven't lost a home ODI series since October 2016.
With the ball, Bangladesh were helped by timely strikes from Ebadot Hossain who also started the wicket glut when he had Virat Kohli chopping on. Kohli had stood in as opener for Rohit who had injured his left hand while fielding.
Rohit, who eventually walked in at No. 9, delayed the inevitable and stretched the chase into the final over after managing to hit four sixes against Ebadot Hossain and Mahmudullah. India needed 20 off the last over against the experienced Mustafizur Rahman. Rohit stretched it until only six was needed off the final ball but Mustafizur kept it full enough to prevent Rohit from getting under.
Before it came down to Rohit, however, India had been propped up by a 107-run stand for the fifth wicket between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel. India had slipped to 65/4 at one stage as Bangladesh kept chipping away regularly before Iyer and Patel managed to counterattack in clinical fashion. The latter kickstarted the proceedings hitting the left-arm spinners for three sixes while Iyer joined in later. Iyer, however, fell in the process of taking on Mehidy Hasan and holed out to deep midwicket, which was soon followed by Axar chipping Ebadot to cover. At 189/6, India were still a far way away from the target but managed to mount a challenge eventually thanks to a stunning cameo from Rohit, even as they fell short by five runs.
Bangladesh's 271 came on the back of a spectacular comeback staged by Mehidy Hasan and Mahmudullah after being reduced to 69/6 at one point. The duo put on a partnership of 147 to help Bangladesh fight back with the bat for the second game in a row, while Mehidy registered his maiden ODI ton as well.
After opting to bat, Bangladesh had slipped up early after Mohammad Siraj struck twice with big off cutters getting rid of both Anamul Haque and Litton Das. Umran Malik added to the damage getting rid of Najmul Hossain Shanto with a 151kph delivery that uprooted the offstump. Pushing Bangladesh further down was Washington Sundar who picked up three wickets in two overs including the big ones of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Losing six for 69, Bangladesh were in a precarious position when Mehidy joined Mahmudullah. The duo took chances early, with Mahmudullah in particular surviving a couple of chances that did not go to hand. Mehidy got going after the spinner, cutting Axar Patel for a couple of boundaries and then lofting Washington Sundar for a six.
The fifty run partnership came off 62 balls after which the duo stepped on the accelerator. Bangladesh raced away through the middle overs with both getting to their fifties in quick succession before Mahmudullah was dismissed for 77, caught behind against Umran Malik.
India had another chance to keep a check on the scoring rate at this point, but Mehidy Hasan went ballistic in the end overs, hitting 34 by himself in the last four overs, including two sixes in the final over that got him to his maiden ODI hundred off the final ball of the innings.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 271/7 (Mehidy Hasan 100*, Mahmudullah 77; Washington Sundar 3-37) beat India 266/8 (Shreyas Iyer 82, Axar Patel 56, Rohit Sharma 51*; Ebadot Hossain 3-45) by 5 runs
Source: Cricbuzz
