Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had no hesitation in opting to field first in the sweltering heat of Sharjah.
Openers Soumya Sarkar and Tanzid Hasan got off to a fast start, but Allah Ghazanfar struck in the first powerplay, dismissing Tanzid.
A solid 71-run partnership followed between Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, but the pitch’s unexpected grip and turn soon became apparent.
Despite this, Bangladesh continued to accumulate runs, with Shanto holding firm at one end while Miraz looked well-set at the other.
However, Miraz couldn’t make the most of his start, falling to a brilliant delivery from Rashid Khan. After a wide down the leg side, Rashid bowled a googly from around the wicket that angled outside the off stump.
Miraz, attempting to cut against the turn, played outside the line and was beaten on the inside edge. The ball spun sharply, crashing into the stumps, leaving Miraz stunned and frozen at the crease for a moment before slowly walking off.
Miraz had no clue about this delivery 🔥
— ACB Xtra (@acb_190) November 9, 2024
~ YET AGAIN THE MAGICIAN ! pic.twitter.com/QTPIk7KS9g
The sudden turn on a seemingly flat pitch had the Twitterverse buzzing, with many praising Rashid’s masterful delivery.