The impatient opener
Plays of the day from the second ODI between Bangladesh and India in Mirpur
Mohammad Isam and Alagappan Muthu
17-Jun-2014
Suresh Raina was run out off Stuart Binny's first ball • AFP
The surprise
Taskin Ahmed bowled two deliveries before rain intervened and stopped play for two hours. In his second over after the break, he pushed Robin Uthappa on the back foot and had him caught off a pull that he was too late in playing. The pace had surprised Uthappa, who had only seen medium-pace whenever he played against Bangladesh. The bowler would complete a five-for but this first wicket set the tone for a thrilling spell, because it was from a Bangladeshi fast bowler.
Taskin Ahmed bowled two deliveries before rain intervened and stopped play for two hours. In his second over after the break, he pushed Robin Uthappa on the back foot and had him caught off a pull that he was too late in playing. The pace had surprised Uthappa, who had only seen medium-pace whenever he played against Bangladesh. The bowler would complete a five-for but this first wicket set the tone for a thrilling spell, because it was from a Bangladeshi fast bowler.
The bad ball
Grey clouds cloaked the Shere Bangla stadium, fueling the hunger displayed by Bangladesh's bowlers. They ran in hard and generated consistent movement to cripple India's top order. Stuart Binny arrived at 65 for 5 in the 17th over and picked his first ball off his hips. It was a bad ball, a rare occurrence on the day, but it led to a wicket. Suresh Raina, with his gloves in one hand and bat in the other, completed the single and turned blind. Binny, playing his first game on the tour, was unable to turn his captain down. India had found run-scoring difficult and in trying to exploit the bowler's error, they lost their top-scorer as Raina was run out.
Grey clouds cloaked the Shere Bangla stadium, fueling the hunger displayed by Bangladesh's bowlers. They ran in hard and generated consistent movement to cripple India's top order. Stuart Binny arrived at 65 for 5 in the 17th over and picked his first ball off his hips. It was a bad ball, a rare occurrence on the day, but it led to a wicket. Suresh Raina, with his gloves in one hand and bat in the other, completed the single and turned blind. Binny, playing his first game on the tour, was unable to turn his captain down. India had found run-scoring difficult and in trying to exploit the bowler's error, they lost their top-scorer as Raina was run out.
The tailender's two pence
Taskin was having perhaps the best day of his life. He had become the first Bangladesh bowler to claim five wickets on debut and had five balls to add to his tally. Umesh Yadav lent merit to his average of 13.5, hacking at the four balls before unfurling a booming straight drive. Taskin homed in on the stumps but was denied as Yadav pressed forward and pummeled it. The bowler wore a wry smile, but Umesh's was brighter. He was India's No.11, but played one of the best shots of a sorry innings.
Taskin was having perhaps the best day of his life. He had become the first Bangladesh bowler to claim five wickets on debut and had five balls to add to his tally. Umesh Yadav lent merit to his average of 13.5, hacking at the four balls before unfurling a booming straight drive. Taskin homed in on the stumps but was denied as Yadav pressed forward and pummeled it. The bowler wore a wry smile, but Umesh's was brighter. He was India's No.11, but played one of the best shots of a sorry innings.
The impatient opener
After a duck in the first game and having endured poor form this year, Tamim Iqbal was half-expected to go after the bowlers. He ran out at Mohit Sharma's first delivery and squeezed the ball through the off-side ring of fielders. It was a boundary, which delighted the crowd and showed Tamim's intent. He tried it the next ball too, this time a slog across the line to a shorter delivery, but edged it to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. This too was an expected outcome of such a wild approach.
After a duck in the first game and having endured poor form this year, Tamim Iqbal was half-expected to go after the bowlers. He ran out at Mohit Sharma's first delivery and squeezed the ball through the off-side ring of fielders. It was a boundary, which delighted the crowd and showed Tamim's intent. He tried it the next ball too, this time a slog across the line to a shorter delivery, but edged it to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. This too was an expected outcome of such a wild approach.
The rash shot
It was a pitch that required the batsmen to be cautious, but when Bangladesh's batting line-up collapses, few things come into play other than a sense of carelessness. The finger can be pointed at any of Mahmudullah, the captain Mushfiqur Rahim or Tamim Iqbal, but Ziaur Rahman, who bowled just one over each in the two matches, was given a golden chance to remove doubt about his place in the team.
It was a pitch that required the batsmen to be cautious, but when Bangladesh's batting line-up collapses, few things come into play other than a sense of carelessness. The finger can be pointed at any of Mahmudullah, the captain Mushfiqur Rahim or Tamim Iqbal, but Ziaur Rahman, who bowled just one over each in the two matches, was given a golden chance to remove doubt about his place in the team.
He went down the track and slogged at Mohit Sharma but he had not realised the bowler's deception. Sharma had slung the ball at him from the back of his hand, and the top edge went high into the air. Akshar Patel took a superb catch at square-leg, but one wonders what goes through the mind of a Bangladesh batsman these days.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84