print icon
Feature

The stumping that was too close to call

Plays of the Day from the ODI between Bangladesh and India in the Asia Cup

Jahurul Islam on his way to a maiden half-century  •  AFP

Jahurul Islam on his way to a maiden half-century  •  AFP

The decision
Third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge won't be a popular man in Bangladesh today, and he would have been more disliked if the home side had lost. His decision to rule Shakib Al Hasan stumped at a critical juncture in the game had many Bangladesh fans fearing this match might turn into another case of so near yet so far. After Shakib had transformed the game with a rapid 49, he was beaten by a big turning offbreak from R Ashwin. Dhoni showed off his quick hands again by breaking the stumps, and after several replays it wasn't entirely clear whether Shakib had made it back in time. Palliyaguruge was convinced, though, and a stunned Shakib had to drag himself off to the pavilion. He seemed sure he had dragged his foot back, and was seen looking at replays of the dismissal in the dressing room.
The six
When Bangladesh needed 33 runs off the final three overs, the match could have gone either way. It swung decisively towards the hosts with a pair of sixes from Mushfiqur Rahim that reduced it to 19 off 15. The second of those came off a friendly full toss from Irfan Pathan, bludgeoned towards the grand stand, almost exactly the same area where Mushfiqur had clubbed the penultimate ball of last year's Twenty20 against West Indies to secure victory in a fluctuating game.
The fielding
Rohit Sharma punched the first ball of the 49th over firmly to substitute Sunny Elias at extra cover and attempted an impossible single. Sunny's throw, though, was wide, leaving the bowler Mashrafe Mortaza screaming in frustration. Mashrafe's mood improved tremendously after the next delivery when Nasir Hossain, probably the best fielder in the side, ran out Rohit with a direct hit from long-on.
The reprieve
Of India's two centurions from the previous match, Bangladesh had dismissed one early, when Gautam Gambhir played on. The other, Virat Kohli, could have been sent back for a golden duck. Shafiul Islam got the ball to swerve sharply in towards the pads, and Kohli could not get bat on it. A huge appeal was turned down, though replays suggested the ball was going on to hit the bails. Kohli cashed in on the reprieve and made 66.
The close call
With Sachin Tendulkar taking his time getting to his 100th century, Bangladesh's fielders lifted, pouncing on everything to not allow easy runs. Tendulkar attempted several sharp singles before changing his mind and scrambling back. On one of those occasions, when on 89, he just managed to beat a throw from Shakib at backward point. The throw narrowly missed and Shakib ruefully watched the replay on the giant screen to see just how close he had come to extending Tendulkar's wait.
The celebration
Jahurul Islam removed his cap, raised his bat and bowed down to do the Sajda after he reached his half-century. It was a first for the 25-year-old batsman, who was playing only his eighth ODI. Jahurul's exclusion from the Bangladesh side in 2010 was perhaps not justified at the time and his prolonged wait is often a point of sympathy whenever selection meetings end. The delight was a natural reaction, though perhaps slightly over-the-top, given that another man had quietly celebrated a much bigger milestone.

Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo