First ODI India Vs Bangladesh Played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

Bangladesh 307 All out (Tamim Iqbal 60, Soumya Sarkar 54, Shakib Al Hasan 52, Sabbir Rahman 41, Nasir Hossain 34, Mashrafe Mortaza 21, R Ashwin 3/51, UT Yadav 2/58) beat India 228 All Out (Rohit Sharma 63, SK Raina 40, RA Jadeja 32, S Dhawan 30, Mustafiz 5/50, Taskin Ahmed 2/21, Shakib 2/33) by 79 Runs.

Brilliant Bangladesh buoyed by youthful exuberance of Soumya, Mustafiz, Taskin, Sabbir and exemplary self-belief  transcended from Mashrafe tamed arrogant and complacent India through a comprehensive 79 runs win in the first of three matches ODI series at Sher-e-bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.

Batting first after winning the toss Bangladesh recorded its first over 300-run (307) team total against India riding on special innings of Tamim (60), Shakib (52), Soumya (54), Sabbir (41) and Nasir (34). The four pronged pace attack then pulverized strong Indian batting crumbling to 228 all out. Bangladesh won huge and handsome by 79 runs.

This win tasted especially sweeter after the controversial world cup quarter final at MCG earlier in March 2015. “Can Do” attitude of Mashrafe Squad made Bangladeshis all over the world proud yet again. The spirit of self-belief that oozes from incredible Mashrafe permeated down to the entire team as they flummoxed the Indians in all department of the game. Bangladesh through this win has already brightened its chances of getting qualified for the 2016 Champions trophy and is looking good for winning yet another ODI series at home.

We from Australia get the cricket on Gazi Television aired star sports televised program. Some commercials there make us disturbed. This Bangladesh performance was strong challenge to those utterly biased commercial. “Incredible India, Unstoppable India” now made credible and stopped by terrific tiger win. Bacchos (minors) with right home works tutored the masters.

Persons like Sanjay Manjrekar will now be careful in downgrading Bangladesh cricket team. On its day, Bengal Tigers can now hunt down any team, does not matter whatever is their past proven record. It is a new generation of extraordinarily talented boys under a dynamic leader that is rocking and rolling the cricket world. Atahar Ali Khan and Samim Ashraf can now keep their heads high and tone aloud while doing match commentaries.

Thanks to VVS (Very Very Special) Laxsman for his very special compliments for emerging Bangladesh after the match. He could exactly figure out the right reasons for Bangladesh win.

The selection of right team, the horses for the courses was the key. Bangladesh appearing with four quality pacers put them on the drivers’ seat at the start. It was definitely a brave and farsighted decision. Few argued when we were suggesting for it. India has genuine weakness against quality pace attack. They are special against spin.

Bangladeshis youngsters Taskin and Mustafizur proved many wrong that the concept of four men pace attack may not work. India failed to decode Mustafizur’s swinging off cutters and also looked vulnerable to Taskin’s pace. India could be further humiliated if Mushfiqur returning to his duty behind the wicket after a brief break would not have floored few chances those came his way. But apart from these blemishes Bangladesh was spot on in all fronts and India was by far the second best on the day.

Fortunes favored as well as toss of coin also favoring. Mashrafe took the right decision of batting first despite having four pacers and sky threatening to open up. Few disagreed. But the leader had supreme confidence on his charge and the wicket had nothing special at the start. Ball was coming at even height. Tormentor Tamim and gloriously magnified Soumya unleashed vicious attack on Indian bowlers reducing them to street side bowlers. Yadav, Kumar, Mohit and even Ashwin were being taken to cleaners by the two flamboyant left handed aggressive batsmen.

A misunderstanding and a run out looked the only possible way to break the partnership and that happened. It was a sad mix up and Soumya had to depart when he failed to recover ground at non-strikers end after being sent back by Tamim for a run. Soumya by that time scored his second ODI half century (54 off 40 balls) striking eight smashing boundaries and a brilliant over boundary.  It was the first hundred opening partnership against India. These two left handed openers in their brief journey together have already scored hundred opening partnership twice (One each against Pakistan and India).

The debutant Litton K Das joined Tamim and the show continued till rain came much to the relief of Dhoni’s men in blue. Such interruption usually dampens the momentum of a batting team. It was not different in this case also. It gave breathing time to India for regrouping. When play resumed hesitant Tamim lost his cool, Litton failed and Mushfiqur again played an uncharacteristic stoke. Ashwin bowling to his brilliant best accounted for all three. Bangladesh was not looking good at 146/4. But Bangladesh has overcome that stage when such collapses could lead to team getting bundled out cheap.

Shakib pairing with Sabbir started the resurrecting act. They smartly rotated strikes for a while and while a bit settled started striking. Off the two Sabbir looked more enterprising and Shakib planned to hold the innings together. 83 runs in the fifth wicket partnership brought Bangladesh back in the game. When Sabbir left during power play Bangladesh was sitting pretty at 229/5 in the 38th over.

Another flamboyant batsman Nasir joined Shakib. The two put on valuable 38 quick runs keeping the tempo going when Shakib got out at a wrong time when his presence was essential to carry Bangladesh out of Indian sight. Shakib scored patient 52 and played his role admirably well responding to the situation. Nasir did not stay longer. When he left after scoring a useful 34 off 27 deliveries Bangladesh was 7/282 with only Mashrafe and tail-enders left.

The one and only of his kind Mashrafe who could hardly hold the bat with his injured palm on the right hand did what he often does. His 18 ball 21 took Bangladesh past 300 for the first time against India. Bangladesh innings ended at 307 with two balls remaining. Few felt on the apparently flat wicket Bangladesh scored about 20-25 runs less. All Indian bowlers with the exception R Ashwin (3/51) and S Raina looked ordinary. Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav hardly received such pounding in the recent past.

The Indian commentators on the ground and analysts back in the star sports studio still looked confident. They thought on a wicket where Indian pacers looked toothless Bangladeshi pace heavy attack may not restrict India. But this Bangladesh is very different.  They have profound self-belief and they play for each other. Leader Mashrafe has instilled a can do attitude. The bowling coach Heath Streak has definitely ironed his pacers well. Bangladesh appeared to have done extensive homework against all Indian batsmen.

India also started briskly. Dhawan was not looking comfortable at all and could be sent back home early had Mushfiqur hold on to at least two chances that came his way off Taskin and Mashrafe bowling early on.  Teenage prodigy Mustafizur impressed one and all with his swing and change of pace. Elegant Rohit was looking good. Taskin bowling at pace removed Dhawan and Kohli quickly and Mustafizur accounted for Rohit and Rahane reducing India from 91/0 to 115/4. Wickets feel in cluster and all through brilliant bowling by two talented youngsters.

In came Dhoni the helicopter pilot. Mashrafe brought in his ace bowler Shakib. How brilliantly Shakib delivered! MSD obliged nicking behind. His weakness against quality left arm spin was again exploited.

At 128/5 Bangladesh had their grip on India’s throat. Still India had Raina and Jadeja, the two dynamic batsmen of limited over versions. Mushfiqur from behind was constantly chirping “match is not over yet boys”. Raina and Jadeja added 60 valuable runs in the 6th wicket partnerships. Indian commentators were hoping against hope.

Mashrafe brought back his young gun Mustafizur and he instantly delivered foxing Raina and Ashwin in successive deliveries. Indian efforts of a recovery were put paid. The teenage debutant picked his fifth wicket haul removing India’s last hope Jadeja. He could have equaled Allan Donald’s feat of six wickets on ODI debut if he could hold on to a caught and bowled regulation catch. But the last two wickets were taken by Mashrafe and Shakib. India in pursuit of the victory got bundled out for 228.

Teenager Mustafiz with 5/50 in 9.2 overs on his debut was easily the difference between the two sides. On a wicket where far more experienced Indian pacers struggled, he teased and tormented quality Indian batsmen with his movement and subtle variations. His armory had deceptive off-cutters which Indian batsmen failed to decode. Definitely world cricket will hear a lot of this boy very soon.

Taskin in a brilliant spell of six overs of pace accounted for Dhawan and all important wicket of Kohli. He is another brilliant young bowler to serve Bangladesh for a long time.

Rubel, however, was not effective. Shakib delivered with bat and ball true to his billing as top ICC ranked all-rounder.

Soumya Sarkar is brilliant find for Bangladesh. He is a fearless aggressive top order batsman, a pleasant addition. He has wide array of strokes and oozes confidence while batting. Pairing with established batting star Tamim he looks to serve Bangladesh admirably in limited over version well. He should rather not be wasted in tests playing him down the order. He will turn into test on due course with maturity.

Sabbir and Nasir are much better quality reliable late middle order batsman who deserves much better acknowledgement. 

Finally, about Majestic Mashrafe. What one can talk about him?  Many can be dream merchants. But only few can translate dreams into reality. Still very few can ignore physical constraints to put his best for a cause. Mashrafe is very special. He reserves his best all the time for his country. He is an enigmatic leader and inspiring personality. He said Bangladesh possesses a pace bowling attack which can destroy any batting line up. He meant it and proved with a battery of four in his arsenal and unleashing.

His bowling handling and field setting were exemplary.  Contrary to general belief he opted to bat after winning the toss and his batsmen delivered. He himself packed a punch while batting at the end. How smartly he used Shakib and Nasir at appropriate time. Bangladesh is on a role with Mashrafe at the helm.

Advantage with Bangladesh with one gone. India will try to bounce back. Bangladesh has to remain consistent. There are still rooms for ironing. Batting at certain stages were not great. Fielding has to improve. A series win is not improbable with rain also a huge factor.

BDST: 0853 HRS, JUN 19, 2015
SR