October 10, 2024

Bangladesh bowlers look to stall India in Delhi’s batting paradise

As Delhi prepares to host the second match of the T20I series against Bangladesh on October 9, two memorable games stand out in the minds of local fans.

First, India faced South Africa at this venue in 2022, where India scored 211 runs, but South Africa successfully chased it down, finishing with 212 runs for 3 wickets.

Second, in IPL 2024, the Delhi Capitals played against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head set a record by scoring 125 runs without losing a wicket in the power play, marking the highest PowerPlay score in T20 history.

In total, seven T20I matches have taken place in New Delhi, accumulating 2,231 runs from 1,638 balls, resulting in an average run rate of 8.17 runs per over. Over the years, the pitch at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium has favored batsmen, putting pressure on Bangladesh’s bowling unit as they aim to force a deciding match in Hyderabad.

The story doesn’t end there; the statistics reveal a different side of the venue during IPL 2024, where Delhi recorded the highest overall average run rate of 11.2. Teams crossed the 200-run mark on eight occasions in five matches (with two other scores of 199 and 189). A total of 134 sixes were hit in Delhi throughout the season, averaging about 27 sixes per game.

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Bangladesh Faces Pressure as India Dominates in T20I Series

Abhishek Sharma has been particularly impressive at this ground, scoring 176 runs in five matches, with an average of 58.66 and a striking strike rate of 217.28. Other Indian batsmen also have strong records here, which could put pressure on the Bangladesh bowling attack.

In 2024, Bangladesh’s bowlers bowled 360.1 overs, taking 115 wickets at an average of 22.63 and an economy rate of 7.22 runs per over. However, in the first match of the ongoing T20I series, the Indian batsmen dominated, chasing down 128 runs with seven wickets remaining and 49 balls to spare.

After the match, Mahmudullah, who recently announced his retirement from T20 internationals, was asked for his assessment of the bowling unit’s chances in this batting-friendly environment in Delhi.

“As a bowling unit, I will say the variety we have both in our pace and spin department, they’ve been doing a wonderful job for the past few years.

“Our bowling too wasn’t that good. I think it will be unfair to put doubts based on that one match. I think we have to come out of our zone and try to win the game,” he said.

Indian pace bowler Arshdeep Singh emphasized the importance of quickly adapting to the conditions when playing on batting-friendly tracks like those in Delhi. He noted that understanding the playing conditions is crucial for their performance.

“We come with a neutral mindset into the match. Not a fixed mindset and adapt according to the conditions,” said Arshdeep.

Whether Bangladesh approaches the game with a neutral mindset or a preconceived notion will only be clear after the second match. For now, the team is drawing confidence from their only T20 victory against India at this venue in 2019. They hope to level the series and push for a decider in Hyderabad.

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Salman hurts England at their own game ‘on his day’

Before the start of the Test, Pakistan promised to beat England at their own game. However, that seemed far-fetched for a team that hasn’t won a home match in nearly four years and recently faced a shocking defeat in the format just a month ago.

The first Test in Multan starkly contrasted with Pakistan’s recent performances. While they executed the fundamentals well, Test cricket requires more than just basics; it demands inflicting psychological blows that can undermine the opposition’s confidence. This strategy has defined England’s Bazball era, and Pakistan remembers the toll it took on their dressing room during the 2022 series, where they lost 3-0.

After nearly perfect execution on day one, Pakistan knew they needed to elevate their game on Tuesday. The morning started slowly, with Saud Shakeel and Naseem Shah forcing the England bowlers to work hard as Pakistan scored at about 2.5 runs per over. To drive the match toward a result, they needed to increase the pace, especially after their nightwatchman managed to tame the second new ball in increasingly placid conditions.

This is where Salman Ali Agha stepped in. As one of Pakistan’s most consistent performers in recent years, he has been a silver lining amid a series of setbacks. Since his debut in Sri Lanka in July 2022, Agha has emerged as a positive story for Pakistan cricket, providing much-needed hope and resilience.

Salman Ali Agha’s dazzling unbeaten 104 on Tuesday further highlighted his impressive form. In cricket, it’s common for batting teams to target specific bowlers, but it becomes a powerful statement when they dismantle the opposition’s best. Jack Leach, who played a crucial role in England’s 3-0 victory during their last tour, entered this series with a solid reputation.

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Salman’s Masterclass Against Spin Highlights His Growing Reputation

Salman has an exceptional record against finger spinners, boasting strike rates of 70.4 against left-arm orthodox bowlers and 54.3 against off-spin, with averages of 47 and 50, respectively. He was instrumental in neutralizing Prabath Jayasuriya during Pakistan’s 2-0 series win in Sri Lanka, where Jayasuriya had previously troubled Pakistan’s batters at the same venue.

In the afternoon session, Salman showcased his skills with a series of aggressive strokes, starting with a graceful drive followed by a powerful shot over mid-off off Leach. He danced down the wicket to hit consecutive sixes over long off and long on, then executed a beautiful sweep for a four. Over a thrilling four-over contest, he struck Leach for four fours and two sixes, asserting his dominance over England’s premier spinner.

“I back myself to attack spinners and I feel I can take them on in any situation,” he said at the close of day two.

The first of those two sixes involved an element of luck as Chris Woakes back peddled over the boundary rope while juggling the catch. He had started to walk back to the pavilion only for the umpire to stop him in his tracks.

That brief made left him stronger in his resolve. “For you to score hundreds, things have to go your way,” he said. “You can say it [today] was my day.”

 With each passing innings, Salman Ali Agha has solidified his reputation as a reliable lower-order batter. After the dismissal of Saud Shakeel, he took control of the strike for most of the afternoon session, ensuring that Pakistan’s scoring rate consistently improved. By the end of the session, their run rate was two runs higher than before.

Salman also enjoyed a productive partnership with Shoaib Bashir, hitting boundaries with ease. Bashir had been highly praised by England before the tour for his ability to bowl from a good height, which aids bounce, and for his sharp spin into right-handers. However, apart from the delivery that dismissed Shakeel, he became a relatively easy target for the Pakistan batters. Salman deftly handled Bashir, scoring runs through reverse sweeps and advancing down the pitch to find gaps.

He even launched a short ball from Atkinson for a four towards mid-wicket, despite Pope’s field placements. With England spreading their fielders around the boundary at 75 runs, Salman expertly picked the gaps and raced to his third Test century, reaching the milestone in just 108 balls.

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Salman’s Stellar Performance Puts England on the Back Foot

Salman’s performance had a demoralizing effect on England, who were desperate to end their struggles. Jamie Smith missed a straightforward opportunity to stump Pakistan’s No. 11, Abrar Ahmed, and just an over later, Atkinson dropped an easy catch. Despite these blunders, Salman downplayed the idea that he was intentionally prolonging England’s misery during the media conference.

Since his debut in July 2022, only three batters, including Salman, have scored over 1,000 runs in the lower middle order (positions 6-8). The other two are Dhananjaya de Silva and Ben Stokes. Salman has amassed 1,033 runs at an impressive average of 47 and a strike rate of 64.

In response, England scored 96 runs at just under five runs per over for the loss of one wicket. The significant task of chasing down 460 runs is largely a result of Salman’s remarkable innings. However, this is just the beginning of the challenge.

Zak Crawley, who was pivotal in launching Bazball in Pakistan in 2022, remains unbeaten on a run-a-ball 64. He has been aggressive against Abrar, who had dismissed him three times in four innings. If Abrar struggles to contain the aggressive opener, Shan Masood will rely on Salman’s off-spin to help turn the tide.

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