Champions Trophy: Mohammed Shami Claims 5-53 as India Restricts Bangladesh to 228

Dubai, Feb 20 (NationPress) Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami delivered another stellar performance in ICC tournaments, achieving his sixth five-wicket haul in ODIs as India dismissed Bangladesh for 228 runs in 49.4 overs during a Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday. On a sluggish pitch, Shami emerged as the premier bowler for India, claiming wickets in both the initial overs and the latter stages, and recording his fifth five-wicket haul in an ICC ODI event. He received solid backing from Harshit Rana, who took 3-31, while Axar Patel contributed with 2-43, narrowly missing out on a hat-trick.

India's fielding was somewhat lackluster, particularly during the middle overs, allowing Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali to lead a remarkable recovery for Bangladesh, turning 35/5 into 228 with a resilient 154-run partnership.

Jaker scored 68 runs off 114 balls, while Hridoy celebrated his maiden international century with a 118-ball innings, providing their bowlers with a competitive target. Shami initiated the breakthrough for India, getting Soumya Sarkar caught by K.L. Rahul with an inside edge on his drive.

As the wickets began to tumble, Najmul Hossain Shanto fell to a catch at short cover off Harshit. Despite Tanzid Hasan hitting three splendid boundaries, India steadily chipped away at Bangladesh's innings, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught off Shami's delivery.

Tanzid's promising innings concluded when he edged a delivery from Axar to K.L. Rahul. Axar followed up with another wicket, sending Mushfiqur Rahim back for a golden duck, as a dropped catch prevented him from claiming a hat-trick and Bangladesh ended the first power-play at 39/5.

From that point, Jaker and Hridoy patiently rebuilt their innings, rotating the strike and capitalizing on loose deliveries. They benefitted from some fortunate breaks; Hridoy was dropped on 23, and Jaker narrowly avoided a stumping when he was on 24.

Jaker concluded a 63-ball boundary drought with a stunning on-drive off Harshit, followed by a sweep for another four, reaching his second ODI fifty off 87 balls. In the subsequent over, Hridoy brought up his half-century in 85 balls.

Hridoy displayed his aggressive side with sixes over Kuldeep and Jadeja. After Jaker hit Shami for a boundary, Hridoy followed suit, as they set a record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in Champions Trophy history against India.

Eventually, India broke the formidable 154-run partnership when Jaker misplayed a slog off a slower ball from Shami, marking the veteran pacer's 200th ODI wicket. Hridoy, hindered by the Dubai heat, continued to score, hitting four and two sixes off Axar before falling to Harshit.

Shami dismissed Tanzim Hasan Sakib, while a struggling Hridoy secured his first ODI century in 114 balls. Shami completed his five-wicket haul with Taskin Ahmed's dismissal, and Harshit concluded the innings by catching Hridoy, finishing with a three-wicket haul on his Champions Trophy debut.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 228 all out in 49.4 overs (Towhid Hridoy 100, Jaker Ali 68; Mohammed Shami 5-53, Harshit Rana 3-31) against India