Sarkar's stunner and the lucky stumping
Plays of the day from the World T20 match between India and Bangladesh in Bangalore
Mohammad Isam
23-Mar-2016
Suresh Raina answered the Bangalore crowd's chants of "we want sixer." • Associated Press
The happy accident
MS Dhoni is usually lightning quick with his stumpings, but he seemed off his game when a chance arose in the 10th over. Suresh Raina slid one down the leg side and Sabbir Rahman, intending to flick the ball, overbalanced. Dhoni's skill as a keeper came through in how he managed to cover so much distance to his left but the appeal for a stumping was more hopeful than anything. Hope, which paid off. Replays showed Sabbir had both his feet firmly on the ground, but then the momentum of his shot dragged his back foot out of the crease first and then the front foot lifted up in the air at exactly the time Dhoni broke the stumps.
The encore
Soumya Sarkar took fast steps to his left at deep square-leg, dived and plucked a catch out of thin air in the 16th over. The TV commentators couldn't figure out if it had gone for a six or if the fielder had taken the catch, such was Soumya's nonchalant celebration. Perhaps, he was shocked as well. Hardik Pandya had struck the pull extremely hard and flat just over the square-leg umpire, but Soumya, who had earlier taken a brilliant tip-toe catch at the midwicket boundary against Pakistan in Kolkata, held on to the crucial catch in a spectacular manner.
Soumya Sarkar took fast steps to his left at deep square-leg, dived and plucked a catch out of thin air in the 16th over. The TV commentators couldn't figure out if it had gone for a six or if the fielder had taken the catch, such was Soumya's nonchalant celebration. Perhaps, he was shocked as well. Hardik Pandya had struck the pull extremely hard and flat just over the square-leg umpire, but Soumya, who had earlier taken a brilliant tip-toe catch at the midwicket boundary against Pakistan in Kolkata, held on to the crucial catch in a spectacular manner.
The Déjà vu
Al-Amin Hossain dropped Virat Kohli on 11 off his own bowling in the 11th over and almost instantly, Suresh Raina struck back-to-back sixes in the same over to revitalise India's innings. Al-Amin had dropped a crucial catch in Bangladesh's previous match against Australia, while fielding at cover. Both were tough chances, but you would expect such catches to be taken at this level.
Al-Amin Hossain dropped Virat Kohli on 11 off his own bowling in the 11th over and almost instantly, Suresh Raina struck back-to-back sixes in the same over to revitalise India's innings. Al-Amin had dropped a crucial catch in Bangladesh's previous match against Australia, while fielding at cover. Both were tough chances, but you would expect such catches to be taken at this level.
When Shakib Al Hasan had dropped Rohit Sharma on 21 in Mirpur at the Asia Cup a month ago, the beneficiary cashed in on the reprieve and went on to make 83. Here in Bangalore, it was not the beneficiary who cashed in. It was the man at the other end.
The on-demand sixes
Chants of "we want sixer" rung around the Chinnaswamy Stadium midway through India's innings. After openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan hit sixes in the sixth over, Suresh Raina smashed two sixes in the 11th over, before Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, smacked one in the 14th over, as the chant went up again. The promoted Hardik Pandya's second-ball six caught the crowd by surprise; nonetheless they cheered him.
Chants of "we want sixer" rung around the Chinnaswamy Stadium midway through India's innings. After openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan hit sixes in the sixth over, Suresh Raina smashed two sixes in the 11th over, before Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, smacked one in the 14th over, as the chant went up again. The promoted Hardik Pandya's second-ball six caught the crowd by surprise; nonetheless they cheered him.
The helicopter over cover
The last time Al-Amin Hossain took the ball for a penultimate over against MS Dhoni, in the Asia Cup final, India's limited-overs captain had smashed the quick over midwicket and sweetly lofted him over extra cover. This time, at the World T20, Dhoni bludgeoned a half-volley over extra cover, almost swinging himself off his feet. He hit with a whippy flourish, like the helicopter shot over long-on. The power on the shot remained intact and the ball raced away to the boundary.
The last time Al-Amin Hossain took the ball for a penultimate over against MS Dhoni, in the Asia Cup final, India's limited-overs captain had smashed the quick over midwicket and sweetly lofted him over extra cover. This time, at the World T20, Dhoni bludgeoned a half-volley over extra cover, almost swinging himself off his feet. He hit with a whippy flourish, like the helicopter shot over long-on. The power on the shot remained intact and the ball raced away to the boundary.
The misfield that caused a collision
Jasprit Bumrah missed a simple piece of fielding in the fine-leg boundary off the first ball of the Bangladesh innings, but another accident had taken place on the pitch itself. Watching the ball, both, Tamim Iqbal, the beneficiary of that misfield, and Ashish Nehra, the sufferer, clattered into each other. Tamim was attended to by Bangladesh's physio as his helmeted head bumped into Nehra's shoulder. Both players apologised to each other instantly.
Jasprit Bumrah missed a simple piece of fielding in the fine-leg boundary off the first ball of the Bangladesh innings, but another accident had taken place on the pitch itself. Watching the ball, both, Tamim Iqbal, the beneficiary of that misfield, and Ashish Nehra, the sufferer, clattered into each other. Tamim was attended to by Bangladesh's physio as his helmeted head bumped into Nehra's shoulder. Both players apologised to each other instantly.
The final act
It was a scene similar to the 1999 World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa. Bangladesh needed 2 runs off the last ball to stay alive in the tournament. Almost all the fielders in one frame, and just one piece of action required. MS Dhoni took off one glove to ensure a throw was accurate and rapid, but he didn't need the throw. He ran 15 yards after Shuvagata Hom missed a short-of -length Hardik Pandya delivery, and ran out Mustafizur Rahman, cold from sitting in the dugout for about two hours. It was the final act that ensured pre-tournament favourites India would remain strong going into their last group match - against Australia.
It was a scene similar to the 1999 World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa. Bangladesh needed 2 runs off the last ball to stay alive in the tournament. Almost all the fielders in one frame, and just one piece of action required. MS Dhoni took off one glove to ensure a throw was accurate and rapid, but he didn't need the throw. He ran 15 yards after Shuvagata Hom missed a short-of -length Hardik Pandya delivery, and ran out Mustafizur Rahman, cold from sitting in the dugout for about two hours. It was the final act that ensured pre-tournament favourites India would remain strong going into their last group match - against Australia.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84