DHAKA, July 3, 2019 (BSS)- Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was not ready to blame Tamim Iqbal for dropping Rohit Sharma when he was on 9, stating that this kind of thing happens in the field.
After being survived, Rohit bludgeoned Bangladeshi bowlers all corner of the park to bring his fourth ton in the World Cup and when he was dismissed by Soumya Sarkar, he already struck 92 ball-104 with seven fours and five sixes to completely throw the Tigers out of the match.
On an increasing deteriorating pitch, India ended up with 314-9 after which they wrapped up Bangladesh’s innings for 286 in 48 overs.
There was widespread belief that had Tamim not shelled the catch, which was completely a sitter after Rohit miscued a pull of Mustafizur to deep square leg, Bangladesh could have bowled India out for below 300 and won the match.
That miss will go down alongside the no-ball from the 2015 World Cup quarter-final in the annals of what-if moments in Rohit vs Bangladesh.
”Rohit’s catch was obviously disappointing, A batsman like Rohit Sharma in such form, but it happens in cricket and we cannot blame Tamim for that,” Mashrafe said at the post match presentation on Tuesday.
India however well placed to take the score past 350 but Bangladesh buried that chance effectively thanks to an excellent Mustafizur Rahman who showed intriguing display of cutter and slower towards end to baffle India batsmen and by doing so he duly was rewarded with his first five-for since November 2015.
”We couldn’t make it but there was some good performances by Mustafizur,” Mashrafe said, heaping shower of praise on Mustafizur.
When Mustafizur dazzled with 5-59, his third five-for against India and overall fourth in his career, Shakib Al Hasan continued giving ‘wow’ moment, hitting his sixth fifty plus knock in seventh match. In this match, Shakib scored 74 ball-66, sending the ball across the rope for six times. That knock took his World Cup tally to 542, two short of top placed Rohit Sharma.
Mashrafe added that though they had partnership it was never big enough to keep them at par with their opponent when they came to chase 315 to win.
”One of them had to go on and score 80-90. Bit of luck could have gone our favour,” said Mashrafee adding that he was pleased with the Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. ”The tournament has been nice, exceptional performance by Shakib and Mushfiqur batted really well right through,” he said.
”We will try to play our best in the last game. They were here supporting us today as well,” he concluded.