Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad have been the pillars of the Bangladesh middle order for a few years. However, it is not just in the middle and dressing room that the two right-handers share time. The duo also spend quality periods outside the cricket field as they are tied by the bond of family.
Mushfiqur Rahim tied the knot with Jannatul Kifayet Mondi in 2014, three years after Mahmudullah Riyad and Jannatul Kawsar Mishti became man and wife. How it link the batters? Well, their wives are sisters, making them brother-in-laws!
When Bangladesh took on tournament hosts India in Pune's MCA Stadium on Thursday, former captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were once again among the stand-out performers for their side. While the wicketkeeper batter made 38 runs from 46 balls before being dismissed by a stellar catch by Ravindra Jadeja, Mahmudullah managed to take the game to the last over the innings, making a quickfire 46 from 36 deliveries.
Mushfiqur's innings included a boundary and a six, while Mahmudullah blasted three fours and sixes each.
Interestingly, it was seamer Jasprit Bumrah who claimed the wickets of both batters. After ending Mushfiqur's innings in Jadeja's hands in the third ball of the 43rd over, Bumrah clean-bowled Mahmudullah with four balls remaining in the Bangladesh innings.
India vs Bangladesh World Cup match: As it happened
Bangladesh managed a modest 256/8 on a batting-friendly surface in Pune on Thursday.
Kuldeep Yadav provided the first breakthrough and Ravindra Jadeja the second, as it was India all the way with Bangladesh going at under five runs per over after a robust beginning.
But the initial exchanges belonged to the young Tanzid Hasan, who struck a dazzling maiden fifty scoring 51 off 43 balls (5x4s, 3x6s). Litton Das made 82-ball 66 (7x4s), whereas Rahim's 38 and a late charge from Mahmudullah (46, 36 balls, 3x4s, 3x6s) brought the Tigers their runs.
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With no assistance from the surface, the task to make early inroads with the new ball appeared challenging even though Jasprit Bumrah (2/41) found some movement in the air.
After a watchful start, Das took on Mohammed Siraj (2/60) in the sixth over, hitting two fours to get a move on and Tanzid pulled Bumrah over fine leg for the first six of the innings in the next.
The Bangladesh openers immediately pressed on the scoring rate as 53 runs came off the last five overs in the powerplay.