Jubayer Tanin, from Dubai
It was the 17th over of Sri Lanka’s innings against Bangladesh’s clash in the Super Four of Asia Cup. At Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Mustafizur Rahman delivered an off-cutter outside the off-stump line. Dasun Shanaka, batting on 38 from 26 balls, sliced the ball over point. Shamim Patwary made a brilliant run and almost got both hands to it, but couldn’t hold on. Shanaka survived.
In the very next over from Shoriful Islam, Towhid Hridoy dropped Charith Asalanka at deep point. He got both hands underneath the ball, but ended up spilling the chance.
The penultimate over brought more drama. Once again off Mustafiz, Asalanka miscued a pull shot towards deep midwicket. Hridoy had plenty of time to judge the trajectory, but despite diving forward, he failed to complete the catch. Fortunately, he made partial amends with a sharp throw to the striker’s end, allowing Litton Das to complete a run-out as Asalanka pushed for a desperate second run.
Despite the missed chances, Mustafizur was outstanding with the ball. His brilliant spell of 4-0-20-3, including 10 dot balls, restricted Sri Lanka to 169/8. On the same pitch where Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam were hammered for 49 and 37 runs respectively, Mustafiz thrived by cleverly mixing his cutters and slower deliveries.
Hridoy, however, endured a night to forget in the field. Bangladesh dropped three catches in the death overs, two of them from him. With his batting already under scrutiny in this Asia Cup, his confidence seems shaken. His body language on the field told its own story, raising the uncomfortable question, is Hridoy really enjoying his cricket at the moment?
