Bangladesh’s horror run with the bat showed no signs of easing as they managed 138 for 7 against India in the Super 10 tie of the World Twenty20 on Friday. A quick-fire stand between Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain (16) gave Bangladesh the momentum in the end overs with 49 runs off 36 balls for the sixth wicket. Bangladesh were off to a disastrous start losing two wickets in two balls in a match that they must win to have any realistic chances of progressing further. Mahmudullah remained unbeaten on (33) while Mashrafe Mortaza (6) carted a big six over deep midwicket to help their side put a decent total at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Two wickets off the first two balls put leg-spinner Amit Mishra (3-26) on a hat-trick in the 20th over Ziaur Rahman went for a duck when he walked down the track and slogged the ball to Ravindra Jadeja at deep long-off. Mishra had Nasir stumped after the batsman danced down the track but got his bat nowhere near the ball. Ravichandran Ashwin and Mishra shared five wickets to keep Bangladesh down to a decent total. Anamul Haque top scored with 44. Sent in to bat, Bangladesh were off to a disastrous start losing two wickets in two balls in a match that they must win to have any realistic chances of progressing further. Opener Anamul Haque was foxed by Mishra’s googly that turned prodigiously to clip the top of off-stump. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (24) played an over-ambitious pull off Mohammed Shami to be caught for the fourth wicket. The hosts lost the big wicket of Shakib Al Hasan (1) when he prodded forward to Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and got an inside edge onto first his pads, then the stumps. Tamim Iqbal (6) and Shamsur Rahman (0) were sent back in successive balls off Ravichandran Ashwin. Rahman knelt down and slogged swept Ashwin straight to Rohit Sharma at deep square leg for a first-ball dismissal. The ball before, Tamim edged low to slip where Suresh Raina took a good catch just off the ground. Tamim survived a huge scare, on 6, when Shikhar Dhawan missed the stumps from a very close range with the batsman way outside his line in the non-striker’s end. Bangladesh openers were off to a flier, scoring 13 runs in the opening over off Kumar including three Anamul boundaries. Indian spinner Ashwin made a double strike in his second over to reel the Tigers down initially and ended with figures of 2 for 15 in his four overs that included 14 dot balls. The hosts must win the Group 2 match to have any chances after meek surrender in their first encounter against the West Indies. India are buoyant with two straight victories and another win will definitely seal their semifinals spot. The hosts have made two changes to their side. They have brought in opener Shamsur Rahman and middle-order batsman Nasir Hossain. India, however, remain unchanged as Yuvraj Singh was provided another chance. – bdnews24.com
