Mashrafe and Taskin bump chests again
Plays of the Day from the T20 match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur
Mohammad Isam and Umar Farooq in Mirpur
24-Apr-2015
It was the World Cup quarter-final against India all over again • AFP
The desperation
Ahmed Shehzad's struggle to get off the mark reached the third over when he charged at Mustafizur Rahman, the debutant left-arm pace bowler. The flash, however, just took the ball to point from where Sabbir Rahman whipped in a throw while Shehzad dived back at his crease. If the throw had struck the stumps, Shehzad's misery would have been over.
Ahmed Shehzad's struggle to get off the mark reached the third over when he charged at Mustafizur Rahman, the debutant left-arm pace bowler. The flash, however, just took the ball to point from where Sabbir Rahman whipped in a throw while Shehzad dived back at his crease. If the throw had struck the stumps, Shehzad's misery would have been over.
The World Cup encore
But it continued, until Mashrafe Mortaza ended Shehzad's rusty stay. Shehzad slammed Taskin Ahmed down the ground where Mashrafe intervened with a superb catch at long-off, diving forward. Both bowler and fielder took off with arms spread wide. The rest of the fielders converging on them must have understood what was coming next, as they gave Mashrafe and Taskin space to jump and bump their chest like they did in the World Cup quarter-final against India. The only difference this time was that Mashrafe didn't fall from the impact. Only Taskin did.
But it continued, until Mashrafe Mortaza ended Shehzad's rusty stay. Shehzad slammed Taskin Ahmed down the ground where Mashrafe intervened with a superb catch at long-off, diving forward. Both bowler and fielder took off with arms spread wide. The rest of the fielders converging on them must have understood what was coming next, as they gave Mashrafe and Taskin space to jump and bump their chest like they did in the World Cup quarter-final against India. The only difference this time was that Mashrafe didn't fall from the impact. Only Taskin did.
The question
Shahid Afridi had promoted himself up to No. 3 to fire up a sloppy start from his team. A booming six over square leg off Mustafizur materialised, but a poor call from the umpire handed Mustafizur his million-dollar first wicket. A length delivery nipped away from Afridi's bat missed an edge by precisely two inches, but the umpire lifted his finger straight away. Afridi signaled for a review, only to be told that no referrals were available, and eventually walked back with utter disappointment.
Shahid Afridi had promoted himself up to No. 3 to fire up a sloppy start from his team. A booming six over square leg off Mustafizur materialised, but a poor call from the umpire handed Mustafizur his million-dollar first wicket. A length delivery nipped away from Afridi's bat missed an edge by precisely two inches, but the umpire lifted his finger straight away. Afridi signaled for a review, only to be told that no referrals were available, and eventually walked back with utter disappointment.
The surprise attack
Tamim Iqbal struck Mohammad Hafeez for a six in the third ODI, but he had generally been conservative against the Pakistan offspinner. In 14 previous matches, Hafeez had Tamim's number five times, three of which were in the last bilateral series between the two sides. At the start of the Bangladesh innings, however, Tamim laid into Hafeez. After a six over long-on, Tamim spanked him over mid-off and extra-cover for fours in the same over. The only downer of that productive first over was Soumya Sarkar's run-out.
Tamim Iqbal struck Mohammad Hafeez for a six in the third ODI, but he had generally been conservative against the Pakistan offspinner. In 14 previous matches, Hafeez had Tamim's number five times, three of which were in the last bilateral series between the two sides. At the start of the Bangladesh innings, however, Tamim laid into Hafeez. After a six over long-on, Tamim spanked him over mid-off and extra-cover for fours in the same over. The only downer of that productive first over was Soumya Sarkar's run-out.
The slap
Bangladesh needed 67 off the last 10 overs when Sabbir Rahman changed the course of the match for good. He struck Wahab Riaz for two fours - a slap over mid-off and a poke through point. Sabbir then swund around his toes for an up-and-under six over long-on. The slap looked the most authoritative, while the next two shots just came with the flow. There wasn't much Pakistan could have done afterwards.
Bangladesh needed 67 off the last 10 overs when Sabbir Rahman changed the course of the match for good. He struck Wahab Riaz for two fours - a slap over mid-off and a poke through point. Sabbir then swund around his toes for an up-and-under six over long-on. The slap looked the most authoritative, while the next two shots just came with the flow. There wasn't much Pakistan could have done afterwards.
The fluctuation
It seems like a distant memory now, Wahab Riaz bowling that spell in the World Cup against Australia. Wahab struggled throughout the ODI series against Bangladesh, and continued to be in tamed in the T20I today. He kept varying it up throughout the game, and when Mushfiqur Rahim drove him though the covers in the sixth over, Wahab reverted to a length delivery that forced an inside edge and dislodged the batsman's timber. Wahab was visibly pumped up, but it proved scant consolation in the end, as he conceded 39 runs from his four overs.
It seems like a distant memory now, Wahab Riaz bowling that spell in the World Cup against Australia. Wahab struggled throughout the ODI series against Bangladesh, and continued to be in tamed in the T20I today. He kept varying it up throughout the game, and when Mushfiqur Rahim drove him though the covers in the sixth over, Wahab reverted to a length delivery that forced an inside edge and dislodged the batsman's timber. Wahab was visibly pumped up, but it proved scant consolation in the end, as he conceded 39 runs from his four overs.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84, Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent