Bangladesh Vs India T20 International Series 2nd Match Played at Rajkot
India 154/2 (Rohit Shama 85, Shikhar Dhawan 31, SS Iyer 24* , Aminul Islam 2/29) beat Bangladesh 153/6 ( Mohammad Naim 36, Soumya Sarkar 30, Mahmudullah Riyad 30, Liton K Das 29, Chahal 2/28) by 8 wickets.
New Delhi to Rajkot. From smoky dusty environment to warm dry surroundings. Tides completely reversed favoring team India. Bangladesh got shocked and awed as team India crushed the tourists playing on batting friendly flat wicket. India squared the three matches T20 international series 1-1 winning by 8 wickets. Bangladesh, at New Delhi, win by 7 wickets. The fat of the series now hinges on the all important match three.
From the moment India won the toss and decided to chase they looked all together a different team. Bangladeshi openers off course tried their level best for setting up a solid foundation. Teenager Naim looked sublime and Liton appeared to find his soothing touch. The partnership appeared cruising. Adrenaline started flowing. Suddenly Liton lost his focus and failed kicking on even after getting few reprieves. Pant messed up a simple stumping chance, he was dropped by Rohit. Even then panicked Liton ran himself out for 29 when the partnership was flowering. Bangladesh lost the first wicket 60 when they were riding pretty at almost 9 an over. The momentum was lost and young Naim also soon left the scene presenting another promising but brief innings of 36. Soumya (30) and Mahmudullah ( 30) got start but none could not convert their innings to anything substantial for taking Bangladesh to a position of comfort. India ripped through Bangladesh batting restricting them to 153/6 at least 30 runs less than what could challenge India. On an easy paced wicket it was a cake walk for the formidable Indian line up.
Indian chase was silky smooth as two prolific openers Rohit and Shikhar went about their task as well oiled machine. Bangladesh bowling which looked so positive and penetrative at New Delhi on the other day looked toothless. Rohit was in his element playing his classy drives, cut and pull with grace and delicacy. His unstable appetite for runs led him to a match winning performance of 85 in only 43 deliveries. It contained as many as 6 sixes and 6 fours. The first wicket partnership produced 115 runs in 10.5 overs. Aminul (2/29) could manage taking wickets of Rohit and Shikhar. But by then India was almost across the fence. SS Iyer remained unbeaten on 24. Shikhar scored 31. Bangladesh lost by 8 wickets.
It was complete reverse from what happened at New Delhi. A new-look Bangladesh could surprise team India rocking them with a 7 wicket win. India as expected bounced back and returned the compliment with a 8 wickets win. The series is now squared 1-1 making the third and final match of the series on 10 November the series decider.
We are not sure Bangladesh was positively focused on the day. The batting was a bit hesitant. Batsmen looked in a hurry. As many as four players in the top order got start but could not get going. At Rajkot even score of 180, 190 are not safe. Moreover, Bangladesh could not do much to break the impregnable opening partnership of Rohit and Shikhar early.
When world class batsmen get set they always make it easy and smooth. India played the match with purpose which Bangladesh could not. Pacers could not bowl on the right channel. However, the positives of the match were another spark in the batting of Naim and quality leg spin bowling of Aminul. Bangladesh lost an opportunity.
BDST: 0931 HRS, NOV 8, 2019
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