Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman ‘has become the big fish’ in short order

In two ODI matches, both momentous Bangladesh wins over India, 19-year-old Mustafizur Rahman has taken 11 wickets and put himself on the cricketing world's map.

Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman celebrates after taking the wicket of MS Dhoni on Sunday in his side's ODI victory in Dhaka. Munir uz Zaman / AFP / June 21, 2015

Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman tore through the Indian batting order once again to help Bangladesh seal the three-match one-day international series with a thumping six-wicket win in Dhaka on Sunday.

Mustafizur picked up where he left off in the opening match, when he claimed five 50, to grab six for 43 and help bowl India out for 200 runs, a target Bangladesh reached in just 38 overs.

The hosts were given a target of 200 runs in 47 overs based on the Duckworth/Lewis method after rain interrupted play for more than an hour towards the end of India’s innings.

Bangladesh faced little problem reaching that figure thanks to Shakib Al Hasan’s second successive 50, along with cameos from Litton Das (36), Soumya Sarkar (34) and Mushfiqur Rahman (31).

Sabbir Rahman (22 not out) steered Axar Patel to third man for the winning run with Shakib unbeaten on 51 at the other end, having smashed five fours in a 62-ball innings.

The win, which followed Thursday’s 79-run success, all but confirmed Bangladesh’s place in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England after they cemented the seventh position in the ODI rankings.

Hosts England, plus seven top-ranked one-day sides will progress to the tournament.

It also confirmed Mustafizur’s arrival as a Bangladeshi star.

“Every time we were shaken someone took over. That is a big thing. The way (Mustafizur) is bowling he has become the big fish,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said.

Mortaza added that the victory, a first series triumph over India for Bangladesh, signalled big things ahead for the Bangladesh side.

“It has been very significant, and many series (are) coming up, hopefully we can keep on performing like this.

“To be playing in the Champions Trophy is a big achievement for us,”

Mustafizur was electric for Bangladesh, delivering India their first blow on just the second ball when Rohit Sharma was caught at cover by Sabbir Rahman off the 19-year-old left-arm fast bowler.

Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli steadied the innings with a 74-run second wicket stand before Bangladesh struck again through occasional off-break bowler Nasir Hossain, who claimed two for 33.

Mustafizur found his real groove through the middle of the India batting line-up, removing Suresh Raina in the 36th over to set off a string of five wickets in across overs.

MS Dhoni, who promoted himself at number four, put on a 53-run partnership in the fifth wicket with Raina, but Mustafizur returned in his second spell to dismiss Raina for 34 to break the stand.

Dhoni, dropped by wicketkeeper Das on 21, later succumbed to the pressure, spooning a catch off Mustafizur to Nasir at short cover.

Mustafizur created a chance of a hat-trick, trapping Axar Patel leg before off the next ball.

While Ravichandran Ashwin survived the hat-trick ball, he soon became Mustafizur’s fifth victim, edging a catch behind the stumps.

Mustafizur bowled Jadeja off his final delivery after the rain break.

“It’s pretty simple to see what went wrong,” Dhoni said after the match. “We need to put runs on the board.

“We didn’t get to a good start, and whenever there was a partnership we lost two wickets together.

“You have to take risks in such a game, but if you keep losing two wickets in a row, it becomes difficult to do so.”

The third and final ODI will be held at same venue on June 24.

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