Bangladesh’s bowlers fought back strongly to restrict India to 168 for 6 after a rampant start in their Super Four clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 24 September.
That Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill would unleash a storm in the powerplay was no surprise. India raced to 72 in the first six overs, and the opening stand reached 77. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in this Super Four clash, the way India had started, even a total of 200 would not have been out of reach. From there, however, Rishad Hossain applied the brakes in the middle overs, with support from Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
For Bangladesh’s bowling unit, restricting a team like India to 168 for 6 after such a blistering start was a creditable effort. In the final over, Saifuddin, who had conceded 33 runs in his three overs, gave away only four runs and claimed a wicket. One more statistic underlines the effort: in the last 53 balls, India managed only 56 runs, while losing three wickets.
And all this came in a crucial Super Four match without regular captain Litton Das. In his absence, Jaker Ali Anik took charge as stand-in skipper. Under the new captain, Bangladesh’s bowlers contained India well in the first three overs, but in the next three overs they could only watch as the runs flowed. In the last 18 balls of the powerplay, the two openers plundered 55 runs with five fours and four sixes.
Coming on in the seventh over, Rishad conceded a boundary off his first delivery, but struck back immediately. Gill, attempting a lofted drive off a full-length ball, was caught at long-off by Tanzim for 29. The opening stand of 77 was broken.
At the other end, the marauding Abhishek reached his fifty in just 25 balls, hitting three sixes and four fours. Yet there was a question whether he would have played this innings at all had he not been reprieved on just 1, he was caught by Jaker off Tanzim, only for the delivery to be deemed a no-ball. Abhishek eventually fell for 75 off 73 deliveries, featuring five sixes and four fours, run out by a superb throw from Rishad at point, gathered by Mustafizur. Even amid India’s six-hitting spree, Rishad kept things tight. Returning for a second spell, he also dismissed Shivam Dube.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav too could not extend his innings, becoming Mustafizur’s 150th T20 wicket, caught by stand-in skipper Jaker . Tilak Varma was kept quiet by Tanzim, who conceded only 15 in his first three overs. He finished with 1 for 28 in four overs. In the closing stages, Hardik Pandya struck four fours and a six for his 38 off 29 balls, before falling late in the innings.
