The Indian batting order collapsed again. It was a four pacer formula from Masrafe Mortaza lead Bangladesh that almost choked India’s search for first victory in Bangladesh in this series. On the second delivery of the first over Sabbir Rahman caught Rohit off Mustafizur at point. The twenty five thousand capacity stadium went wild as the entire team huddled together to celebrate the wicket of Rohit.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni winning the toss opted to bat first made three changes. Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel and Dhawal Kulkarni replaced Ajinkya Rahane, Umasesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma.
It was again Mustafizur Rahman who was wrecker in chief for India’s illustrative batting line up. He picked up six wickets and become the only bowler in the history ODI cricket to pick up 11 wickets in his first two games. He was once on hat trick at 39th over when he first foxed MS Dhoni with a cutter and then bowled an excellent seam-up delivery to send Axar Patel for first ball duck. His hat trick was denied by Ravichandran Ashwin who flicked his delivery to the logoff fielder.
Losing the early wicket of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli joined Shikhar Dhwan and gradually rotated the strike. Virat has started playing stroke to all parts of the ground; he hit Mustafizur for consecutive six and four in the ninth over. But when it was seemed that Virat got his going, off spinner Nasir Hossain trapped him lbw at his personal score 23 off 27 balls.
Surprising everyone, MS Dhoni came in at number four after 54 ODIs. He has astonishing record at this position. He, before this match, had scored 910 runs in 19 ODI.
However, Dhoni’s partnership with Shikhar did not last long as the southpaw after scoring his thirteenth fifty got caught out off Nasir Hossain. Shikhar chased a flight delivery from Nasir Hossain that took sharp turn and edge off the bat that went in the safe hand of wicketkeeper Litton Das.
Four balls later Ambati Raydu went for a duck as he was caught by Nasir Hossain at point off Rubel Hossain.
Bangladesh blowers look set to break the spine of Indian middle order.
Raina joined Dhoni to resurrect the innings. But, the hungry Bangla launched full throttle attack on the Indian batsmen. The result came immediately as Mustafuzur trapped Raina with a short delivery which Raina edged to wicketkeeper Littion Das
The most satisfying wicket for Mustafizur was the wicket of MS Dhoni whose shoulder barge made the teenager to leave the ground for medication in the first ODI.
Ashwin looked to push a slower delivery from Mustafizur, but the ball moved away off the surface, taking an edge en route to the keeper. This is magnificent stuff from the 19 year old.
During the power play, India managed only 17 runs losing three wickets as the middle order collapsed like a house of cards.
No resistance from India. No batsman left in the crease who could score a respectable total for India.
Mustafizur and his compatriots dragged India down at 184 for 8 in 42 over and were eying to clean up the tail. At this juncture, heavy monsoon down pour came in that forced umpires to halt the game.
After almost two hours of rain interruption, the game commenced with Mustafizur hittting the middle stump of Jadeja of his last ball.
And finally Bhuvneswar Kumar was caught by Liton Das off Rubel Hossain as India got all out at plucky 200.
After inspecting the ground umpires decided to play a 47 over game. As per Duckworth–Lewis method Bangladesh will have to score same runs as India scored, as India lost their all important eight wickets before the rain interruption.