The weather as expected played a major part in the third ODI between Bangladesh and India yesterday. Heavy rainfall in the capital washed out the final encounter of the three-game series, pouring water on any chance the hosts had of a consolation win while India walked away with the trophy courtesy of their previous two wins at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
The first match of the series was cut down to 26 overs in the second innings due to rain as India were given a revised target of 150 runs, after Bangladesh posted 272/9 in 50 overs, which they achieved with ease. In the second match, 41-over per side, the Tigers restricted the visitors to just 105 before getting humbled for just 58.
Bangladesh had India reeling once again, thanks to some brilliant pace bowling from the trio – Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Al Amin and Taskin Ahmed, who always kept the Indian batsmen under severe pressure.
Suresh Raina won the toss and surprisingly opted to bat in a gloomy afternoon. The home side bowlers used the conditions to perfection as the slip fielders were seen busy catching the edges from the visitors.
Mashrafe opened the destruction in the fifth over when Robin Uthappa (5) was caught at slips before Ajinkya Rahane (3) too returned in similar fashion off Al Amin.
Teenager Taskin, who had a brilliant start to his ODI career in the previous match bagging five wickets, started off from where he left. He surprised Ambati Rayudu with a short ball on his body, as the batsman only managed to guide it to the wicketkeeper. India were struggling at 13/3 before rain interrupted for the first time.
India faced another blow when the game resumed after 25 minutes. Al Amin made Manoj Tiwary (1) his second victim to leave India at 16/4 before Raina and Cheteshwar Pujara held the ship until rain interfered again.
A break of two and a half hours saw the match reduced to 40-over a side and India looked better with Raina and Pujara adding 41 for the fifth wicket. Just when the duo was looking to shift to an attacking gear, Shakib al Hasan removed Raina for 25.
The dismissal saw the Bangladesh bowlers pounce on the visitors as Shakib picked two more while Taskin bagged his second along with Sohag Gazi removing Mohit Sharma to leave India tottering at 119/9 in 34.2 overs.
Stuart Binny, adjudged player of the series for his record 6 for four in the second ODI, was unbeaten on 25 when rain stopped play for the final time.
