India, Bangladesh aim to extend lead
LUCKNOW : With rain playing hide-n-seek game, the under-23 sides of both hosts India and visiting Bangladesh would look to extend their lead in the fivematch ODI series when the two teams lock horns in the third match of the series, at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Cricket Stadium here on Monday.
The two teams are locked in 1-1 draw as Bangladesh after losing the opening game by 34 runs, bounce back superbly to win the second game by just five runs through D/L formula after rain hit the tie on Saturday. Once again rain may play spoil sport as a torrential rain lashed the state capital on Sunday afternoon.
Bowlers, especially spinners had an upper hand in the first game of the series with Mohammed Mehidy Hassan Miraz and Mohammed Saif Hasan sharing three and five wickets for Bangladesh, and then for India Shubhang Hegde, Hrithik Shokeen and Yashasvi Bhupendra bagged two wickets each to inflict a convincing win.
Barring Aryan Juyal, who scored a fine half-century and BR Sharath, who made 42, none other Indian batsman, including skipper Priyam Garg (4) could show his mark.
But in the second game, it was altogether a different situation for the side when against Bangladesh’s 149/2 in 36 overs, India were asked to chase 218 in 36 overs under the D/L method.
Openers Yashasvi Bhupendra Jaiswal (34) and Madhav Kaushik (34) laid a solid foundation, stitching together 77 runs for the opening wicket. This was followed by BR Sharath (55) and Priyam Garg (53) as the two tried their best to take India almost home. Things could have been different, if the last five Indian batsmen had something good.
For Bangladesh, opener Mohammed Saif Hassan scored a fine half-century, whereas Fardeen Hasan Ony remained unbeaten on 47. On a batsmen friendly track, it would be another exciting tie on Monday, if the Sun god kept shining all the day.