For Second Time in 3 Days, India Done in by Mustafizur; Lose ODI Series to Bangladesh

He began by harassing Indian batsman in first ODI and produced even better bowling display, three days later in the second ODI. Both matches were played at Shere Bangla Stadium at Mirpur. In the second ODI, India fumbled yet again against Mustafizur Rahman’s off-cutters and yielded six wickets to him. With their batting woes seeing no end, India managed a paltry 200 all-out in 45 overs against a team that they have been regularly beating in the past. The new Bangladeshi bowler struck with the second ball of the innings to get rid of Rohit Sharma and came back later to polish off the tail. Incidentally, India had bounced back after the loss of Rohit Sharma and reached 163/4 in the 36th over. In remaining 14 overs, India could easily have added at least 100 to make the game competitive but sub-par batting saw them add just 37 more and lose six wickets. Of the last 14 overs, Mustafizur bowled just 4 but he overawed quality batsmen like MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina before taking their wickets. Then he also claimed the wickets of Axar Patel and R Ashwin to complete a 6-wicket haul in his career’s only the second ODI. It was a pitiable sight as India’s batsmen groped and plodded as if they have been bound in a vice-like grip. Dhoni took 75 balls for his 47 runs, Raina’s 34 came off 55 and Jadeja played 26 balls for 19 in slog overs. The brilliance of Mustafizur Rahman rubbed on other Bangladesh bowlers as they froze the Indian batsmen in their tracks. Bangladesh needed to chase 200 in 47 overs after D/L adjustment and they batted sensibly. With Every Bangla batsman contributing, they comprehensively beat India by six wickets with 9 overs still remaining. In winning the ODI series against India, Bangladesh also qualified for 2015 Champion’ Trophy.

India decided to bat after the toss and lost Rohit Sharma to Mustafizur Rahman off his second ball at the innings’ start. But Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were unfazed as they batted for the next 12.3 overs before Kohli was trapped plumb in front to a ball from Nasir Hossain that didn’t turn. Dhawan at the other end kept his cool, crossed 50 and helped his team in adding 35 with captain Dhoni for the third wicket. It looked a good game for India despite the early loss of Rohit Sharma. After Dhawan, new man Rayudu didn’t last longer than three balls as he fell for a duck to a catch at point by Nasir Hossain after another Hossain, Rubel had served him a juicy delivery. Regardless, Dhoni and Raina took the score to 163 by 36th over and it looked as though, India would step up in slog overs. Well, that didn’t happen because in his next spell, Mustafizur Rahman flummoxed Raina with short-ball cutter, which found the edge of his bat for the keeper to take a good catch. Then Dhoni fell to another Mustafizur cutter and was gobbled up at short cover. Axar Patel was clean bowled by a straight ball by Mustafizur and Jadeja gave the 19-year old his sixth wicket as the batsman missed a straight delivery and took it on his pad. The slog-overs phase of usually explosive ODI batting became a huge drag on India’s batsmen and in the end, Bangladesh reduced them to 200 all out in 45 overs.

The only way India could stop Bangladesh from winning was to take quick wickets early and consolidate. But that didn’t happen as openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar went about the task assigned to them. Though Tamim Iqbal got out early, every other Bangla batsman made his contribution to the victory target, which was revised to 200 in 47 overs. There was never any panic since Indian bowlers couldn’t make any impression on the determined Bangla batsmen. Though Soumya Sarkar’s innings was a bit patchy, he still added 52 with Litton Das for the second wicket. For a couple of overs, India looked like putting some pressure through Ashwin for a few overs but Bangladesh came back to resume the steady chase of their victory target. After Sarkar and Das fell, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim produced a 54-run partnership in nearly 10 overs. When Mushfiqur was run out for 31, the required rate was under 3 and there was no way Bangladesh could lose. Finally, Shakib assumed control and with Sabbir Rahman proving an able company, Bangladesh cruised to an easy 6 wicket victory when they reached 200/4 in 38 overs.