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India and Bangladesh took on each other in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. While Litton Das had won the toss in the first match, it again went in his favour in the second ODI as he decided to bat first. As has been the case of late, Mohammed Siraj drew the first blood for India as he trapped Anamul Haque LBW.
The right-arm pacer was breathing fire in the middle and was further pumped up after this wicket. Siraj channelled his aggression into bowling and kept the Bangladeshi batters on their toes. His prime target was Najmul Shanto who was finding it hard to anticipate the pacer’s line and length.
As Siraj came in to bowl his fourth over, Shanto hit the pacer for a boundary. However, Siraj corrected himself and bowled two beautiful outswingers that just went past Shanto’s outside edge. As Shanto missed another one, Siraj tried to get into his skin by uttering a few words. Meanwhile, Shanto was just staring at Siraj.
Although Shanto had the last laugh as the batter hit another boundary on the next delivery, Siraj bagged another wicket as he cleaned up Litton Das. The pacer bowled on a good length and the ball jagged back in to rattle the stumps.
After this breakthrough from Siraj, Umran Malik dismissed Shanto with a 151 kmph delivery. Meanwhile, off-spinner Washington Sundar struck thrice to get rid of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Afif Hossain. While Sundar got Shakib and Rahim caught, he cleaned up Afif Hossain for a golden duck.
But Bangladesh were able to make a comeback as last match’s hero Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah stitched a partnership in the middle. The two batters played with precision and kept Indian fielders on their toes.