5-run win gives Tigers series victory
Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com
Bangladesh won the three-match ODI series with a game to spare after a five-run triumph at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Bangladesh continued their dominance at home, having now won 17 out of their last 20 ODIs, as they recorded a second bilateral ODI series win against India after 2015. It was also Bangladesh’s sixth win from their last seven bilateral series in the 50-over format.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz again shone brightest in a crisis situation, going on to strike a maiden ODI century. He and Mahmudullah Riyad added a record 148 runs seventh-wicket stand to help Bangladesh recover from 69 for six and post a match-winning 271 for seven.
Mahmudullah was dismissed for a 96-ball 77 with seven fours, while Miraz remained unbeaten on 100 off 83 deliveries with six fours and eight sixes.
But it was a hard-fought win for Liton Das and Co. in the end.
After suffering an injury while fielding in the first innings, India skipper Rohit Sharma came to bat at number nine with India needing 59 to win off 29 balls.
The right-hander almost took the game away from the hosts with a blistering unbeaten fifty off just 27 balls, but Mustafizur Rahman held his nerve and successfully defended 20 runs off the final over after bowling a maiden in the 48th over of the innings.
However, Rohit fought till the end. He struck two fours and a six, leaving India with six to win off the last ball.
But the ‘cutter master’ kept his calm with a brilliant delivery that saw the visitors reach 266 for nine.
Earlier, Bangladesh made a great start by picking up early wickets courtesy of Ebadot Hossain, who removed the dangerous Virat Kohli. At one stage, India were struggling on 65 for four.
Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel steadied the ship and added 107 for the fifth wicket to bring the visitors back into the game.
Miraz played his part with the ball as well, removing the dangerous Iyer on 82 to break the partnership. Ebadot then dismissed Axar after he had made 56. The right-arm seamer ended up picking three wickets while Mustafizur and Miraz bagged two each for Bangladesh.
