DHAKA, Nov 09, 2024 (BSS)—Mahmudullah failed to live up to the expectation of steadying the Bangladesh’s vulnerable middle order when the side pinned hopes on him to bail them out of the danger in absence of the likes of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan.

Of late Bangladesh suffered a middle order collapse that caused their defeat in several matches including the first ODI against Afghanistan, only to see their giant status in ODI format in limbo.

The key reason in the vulnerability in middle order was the flop show of the experienced batters, who were the mainstays of the side for long.

With Mushfiqur being ruled out of the remaining two ODIs due to his finger injury, sustained during the first game, Bangladesh expected Mahmudullah to come all guns blazing as the side has been at dire strait.

But the veteran batter was dismissed for just 3, which meant his last four ODI scores read 0, 1, 2, 3.

In the second ODI, he perished to a loose shot again and the dismissal came at a moment, when Bangladesh needed him for a death over firepower.
 
Fortunately for Bangladesh, debutant Jaker Ali Anik stood tall to hammer 27 ball-37 not out, which helped the side propel past 250 eventually.
 
Bangladesh eventually put up 252-7 with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto making highest 76.