Bangladesh’s 74-run rout of the West Indies (WI) in the opening match of the series was more than a mere win at home; it was a demonstration of how one bowler can change the course of a limited-overs game. Chasing down a seemingly low 208 on an unexpectedly darkish Dhaka pitch, the West Indies were sitting cosily at 51 for none with Brandon King and Alick Athanaze threatening to take the game away in the first ten overs. But in less than thirty overs, the visitors were back in the hut for 133. The architect of this chaos? Rishad Hossain, who took 6 for 35 and rewrote Bangladesh’s ODI legspin history.
Legspin’s Sudden Strike Power
It was Rishad’s first over, the 12th of the innings, which changed the script. Athanaze was well set when he went lbw for 27, a small wicket in itself, but one which sent tremors through the Windies’ top order. In the 22nd over, Rishad took King and Rutherford in one over, turning a bad start into a collapse. This was not all due to accident; there was precision in it. His legbreaks skidded from a mysteriously dark track, keeping the ball low and whilst-deceptive. ODIs in Bangladesh have generally shown seamers up to an early hour, and spinners later—but Rishad was taking his toll from the middle over on a track which splendidly reversed the usual tactical method, which we have a recollection of as having been in evidence in the Saeed Ajmal days, so extraordinary were his balls.
Psychological Warfare in the Middle Overs
The numbers tell a story, while the mental aspect tells another. Rishad Hossain’s first over brought about doubt in the West Indies’ order. By the time Carty and Chase were dismissed, the West Indies were chasing shadows and not runs. Nurul Hasan’s four catches in the rear were not just support, but psychological props. Each false edge and misjudged leave added pressure to the side, creating a scenario where even the clubhouse aggressors, Shai Hope, felt the pressure of the bowler’s deliveries. The Dhaka darkness was not only dark literally, but certainly dark as well, a shadowy session where every ball bore the idea of menace.
Batting Under a Slow-Scoring Spell
The innings of Bangladesh prior had hinted at the difficulty of the pitch. The openers, Saif and Soumya, fell to the score of 9 within the first 2 or 3 overs of the innings, while even the 71 for the 3rd wicket between Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto was very slow, with few boundaries produced. Mahidul Islam, on his debut innings in ODIs, made 46 for himself, emphasising that intermediate runs would have to be carefully culled, even with moderate totals on the ground. Rishad himself made a quick 26 in 16 balls, showing that it was not only as a bowler that this leg-spin bowler was a threat, as he could accelerate in scoring as the occasion demanded.
Supporting Cast’s Silent but Critical Role
Despite much of the contracting being attended towards the brilliance of Rishad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Mustafizur Rahman quietly took care of the tail. Mehidy nabbed key wickets, including Shai Hope, while Mustafizur accounted for Shepherd and Greaves. Their discipline with the ball kept the pressure very high, thus not letting the brilliance of Rishad be diminished. Historically, to have very good performances with the ball has been dependent on support, Shane Warne’s menacing spells, for example, together with rather circumspect fielding support in 1994. Bangladesh emphatically plugged into this route.
Key Takeaway
Rishad’s performance proves that in modern ODIs, legspin is not just a weapon; it can be a full-blown game-changer.
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