Tigers pocket another thriller to seal series

It seems like every clash between Bangladesh and India would go down to the wire nowadays.

Otherwise, it was all wrapped up for the Tigers. A second ODI series win on the trot against India, their 12th ODI series win at home since the 2015 World Cup.

With India at 207-7 chasing 272 and skipper Rohit Sharma supposedly out with an injury to his hand, Bangladesh could see the trophy in their hands.

Just to raise the climax, Rohit decided to bat. He blasted a fifty off 27 balls just for the sake of it and took the equation that looked like 40 from two overs to six off the final ball.

But Mustafizur Rahman, who was one of the heroes of the last match in the unlikely role of a batter, held his nerve and ensured that Bangladesh won by five runs and secured the series.

Up until Rohit took the field, the match was all about Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Bangladesh looked down and out at 69-6, but Miraz, who pulled off a heist in the series opener to grab an improbable one-wicket win, was not ready to go down without a fight.

He put together a sturdy 148-run stand with Mahmudullah Riyad, the highest for Bangladesh against India, and their second-highest for the seventh wicket. Coincidentally, Miraz was part of the record one too, which took place earlier this year when he and Afif Hossain put together an unbeaten 174 to take Bangladesh home against Afghanistan after being reduced to 45-6.

After Mahmudullah was gone for 77, Miraz took up the incentive and put up another partnership with Nasum Ahmed, which produced 64 runs in just 23 deliveries, with the left-arm spinner contributing 18.

Bangladesh would have been happy with 240, as mentioned by skipper Liton Das after the match, but Miraz’s destructions at the end took them to 271-7, and on the final delivery of the innings, the all-rounder got a single to reach triple figures for the first time in his ODI career.

Chasing the total, India were rattled early as Ebadot Hossain got rid of Virat Kohli, who had to open as Rohit was injured. Mustafizur then struck to send Shikhar Dhawan back, and Shakib Al Hasan ensured that Washington Sundar, used as a floater, did not stick around for long.

Miraz, adding to his heroics with the bat, trapped KL Rahul LBW, meaning India were down to the last fumes of their batting order.

But from there, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel put 107 runs together and were seemingly taking the game away. Well, until Miraz intervened.

The all-rounder came back and got rid of Iyer for 82. And soon, Ebadot got rid of Axar for 56 before dismissing Deepak Chahar for 11. In between, Shakib got his second to get Shardul Thakur out. As Shardul walked out, to the surprise of many, Rohit walked in. And a few hits against Ebadot meant the equation was down to 40 runs from three overs.

Then, Mustafizur arrived, and the tailender Mohammad Siraj had no clue as he missed the first five cutters the Fizz threw down, and Rohit refused a single in the last ball.

In the next over, bowled by Mahmudullah, Rohit gave two chances, but Ebadot and Anamul Haque spurned both, and two sixes meant India were still in the game. The Indian skipper then hit Mustafiz four two fours before a six, meaning he needed to clear the ropes to seal an unbelievable win.

But Mustafiz managed to deliver a near-perfect yorker, which Rohit could only manoeuvre for a single, which he did not take, meaning Bangladesh had the series in the bag.

Bangladesh captain Liton, albeit happy, said in the post-match presentation that they were going for the clean sweep in Chattogram, where the final match of the series would take place on Saturday.

“Feeling very happy. Winning the series as captain - it’s a dream come true. I decided that 240 would be enough in Mirpur. We lost six wickets but the way Miraz and (Mahmudullah) Riyad bhai played was outstanding. The wicket played well in the second half and I just changed the bowlers. We are going for a win in the third match,” he said.