India outclassed Bangladesh at New Delhi to clinch the three-match T20I series 2-0 with a match to go. An all-round show from Nitish Reddy was the highlight of their thumping 86-run win – their biggest victory margin against Bangladesh.
Powered by a 108-run stand between Nitish and Rinku Singh for the fourth wicket, India muscled their way to 221 after being put in to bat. The pitch in Delhi played true to pre-match predictions, largely offering batters plenty of value for money for the shots they played. But briefly, during the PowerPlay, Bangladesh had their toss decision vindicated with three quick wickets. Both Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav chipped to mid off with the ball appearing to stop on them while Abhishek Sharma chopped on after getting to 15.
India had started the innings on a quick note with Samson picking two boundaries off Mehidy Hasan’s first over while Abhishek got one more in the same over. But the duo fell in successive overs of pace with Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib striking. Mustafizur Rahman joined the party when he got the better of skipper Suryakumar Yadav and India were put in a spot of bother inside the PowerPlay, despite getting a healthy 45.
Rinku and Nitish took a short while before imposing themselves on the spinners. Rinku’s slog-swept six off legspinner Rishad Hossain signalled their intentions while Nitish did an encore in the following over by Mahmudullah. The 10th over of the innings showcased the switch in gears as Rishad Hossain was tonked for three sixes and a four by the duo that amassed 24 runs in the process. Even as pace was brought on straight after, the onslaught continued with Nitish whipping a six over long on and Rinku cutting a four to put Mustafizur under pressure.
Nitish brought up his maiden international fifty, off just 27 balls, in the following over as the partnership gathered pace rapidly. The 100-partnership came up with Nitish hitting Mehidy for three sixes and a four before he was undone by a slower one from Mustafizur. His 74 off 34 had turned the tide by then, and the momentum gained was kept up by Hardik Pandya, who flayed Rishad for a four and a six straightaway. Rinku then went 4, 4, 6 against Tanzim to bring up his fifty off 26 balls before he pulled Taskin to deep midwicket.
Hardik and Riyan Parag kept the boundaries coming as India raced past 200 in the penultimate over. The relentless pursuit cost India in the back end where four wickets fell in the last seven balls robbing them of a higher total. However, 221 proved to be more than enough with Bangladesh barely mounting a challenge in the chase.
Even though Parvez Hossain Meroz punched Arshdeep Singh for three boundaries in the opening over, the innings fell apart soon after. Arshdeep had his man in the following over chopping on while Washington Sundar struck in his first, getting Najmul Hossain Shanto miscuing to long on. The spinners continued to dent Bangladesh with each of Varun Chakaravarthy and Abhishek Sharma hitting the stumps in their opening overs. Bangladesh lost 3 for 6 in a 14-ball period that sent them spiraling downwards.
Mahmudullah and Mehidy arrested the slide briefly before the latter hit one straight to long off. Nitish capped off his exploits with the bat with two wickets in the latter stages of the innings to cap off a near-perfect day.
Brief Scores: India 221/9 (Nitish Reddy 74, Rinku Singh 53; Rishad Hossain 3-55) beat Bangladesh 135/9 (Mahmudullah 41; Varun Chakravarthy 2-19) by 86 runs
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