Reddy-Rinku storm blows away Bangladesh to help India clinch T20I series

It was another crazy show of brilliance in New Delhi as Team India pocketed the T20I series with a game to spare. Showcasing class and dominion encased in gold, the hosts were relentless in their pursuit of another clinical victory. Despite a tricky start after being put to bat, a class affair from two rising superstars, Nitish Reddy and Rinku Singh inflicted some serious misery upon Bangladesh.

The Indian openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma were off to a flying start, clobbering a handful of early boundaries. However, India’s joys were transient as both Samson (10) and Sharma (15) fell to some clinical bowling from Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib respectively. To intensify the frowns for the Men in Blue, their captain, Suryakumar Yadav (8) also fell to a slower one.

Wobbling at 41/3, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh joined forces for the hosts and ushered them through the jumpy waters to safety. Once the innings was stabilized, the duo started firing on all cylinders and would only operate on the fifth gear. They added 108 runs from just 48 balls, setting the visitors alight. Reddy was the chief aggressor, blasting 74 off 34 while Rinku Singh continued the battery thereafter, smashing 53 off 29.

Despite Nitish’s departure, India had no mood to relent as Hardik Pandya walked out and started off exactly from where he left in the last game, clubbing the bowlers in front of square and hammering them big and hard. Singh fell while trying to swing for the fences but Riyan Parag introduced further frenzy, slashing and smashing 15 off just five balls before Sakib could get rid of him.

India totted up 221/9 with Reddy being the top-scorer. Rishad Hossain was the pick of the lot for Bangladesh with three wickets but he also conceded 55 runs. Taskin Ahmed was the only economical bowler of the lot but that was enough for Bangladesh to daunt the Men in Blue.

Parvez Hossain Emon (16) and Liton Das (14) were off to a decent start for sure, hitting a handful of boundaries. However, the Indian bowlers meant business. Arshdeep Singh produced a sharp inside edge from Emon as the ball clattered onto his timbre. Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto continued coming after the Indian bowlers but only momentarily.

Once Shanto (11) fell to Washington Sundar, the floodgates opened up for Team India and there was sheer rampage that followed suit. Varun Charavarthy breached the castle of Das while Abhishek Sharma removed Towhid Hridoy (2). Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah did manage to put in a bit of repair work, adding 34 runs for the sixth wicket.

The introduction of Riyan Parag provided a crucial breakthrough as he got the big wicket of Miraz. From thereon, it was just a formality for the Indian cricketers as they restricted Bangladesh to 135/9, registering their biggest ever T20I win against the neighbours. Reddy won the Player of the Match award for his incredible show with the bat.