That T20 games are invariably settled at the fag end is well-established. The last five overs usually tend to be the ones that decisively tip the scales in one team’s favour. But sometimes, late finishes are taken to the extreme, making for some of the most unforgettable matches ever.

After controlling the overwhelming majority of the game, Bangladesh were well on their way to upsetting India, before three balls of madness resulted in collective heartbreak

As was the case when India clashed against Bangladesh in Bengaluru, during their home 2016 World T20 campaign. An underwhelming Indian batting performance had given the home team just 146 runs to defend. 

India chipped away during the chase, but Bangladesh found contributions just large enough to keep them in the hunt. Eventually, it came down to 11 off the final six balls, with two extremely capable batsmen in Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim at the crease.

India were under serious pressure. If the equation didn’t convince you of that, then captain MS Dhoni’s pre-over conference with Ashish Nehra, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya ought to have.

After what seemed like forever, the pool disbanded and Pandya, the man tasked with delivering the improbable, ran in with the ball. The first ball is full and wide, and Mahmudullah steers it to the sweeper on the cover boundary for a single. Ten off five.

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More discussions ensue as Dhoni offers words of wisdom to his bowler. These are long, long breaks between balls, spanning around the same time as an over under normal circumstances. Whatever it is that the brains trust discussed did not come to fruition, however, as Pandya sent down a slower ball gone wrong, and was belted through extra cover.

Now, Nehra chats with Pandya and is joined by Dhoni. But for the second time in a row, things don’t quite work out for India, as Rahim scoops Pandya past Dhoni for four more. Two off three. No way Bangladesh were conceding this now. But the job was still not done. Rahim, however, is confident, and in a now-infamous early celebration, lets out a triumphant cry, with a fist bump to boot.

It is short-lived, though, as Pandya goes slow again next ball, this one banged in halfway down the pitch, and Rahim picks out Shikhar Dhawan at the deep midwicket boundary. Two off two. It’s still the batting team’s game to lose, but things turn around pretty fast in international cricket. New batsman, tight margins, a high-stakes encounter… the pressure can kill.

[caption id=”attachment_83199″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed at a critical juncture[/caption]

Shuvagata Hom is the new man in, but the batsmen have crossed over, which means Mahmudullah takes the strike. Pandya, Nehra and Dhoni are back mid-pitch, engaged in frantic discussions. Over-rates are a forgotten thing by now. The wait between balls keeps getting longer.

The pressure gets to Pandya, who sends down the worst kind of delivery a bowler could in this situation. It’s a full toss. This was it. No way Mahmudullah was going to miss out on this. Bangladesh were going to seal this with a six.

Perhaps with all these thoughts running through his head, Mahmudullah swings hard, but it looks awful from the outset. The ball does get some elevation, but this never seems like it’s going to go all the way. What’s worse for Bangladesh, it finds Ravindra Jadeja, the opposition’s best fielder. India have two in two, Bangladesh need two in one.

 

Pandya is once again spoken to, but this time by a much larger pool. Nehra and Dhoni are back, but are joined by Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli. Although it’s Nehra doing most of the talking. Hom is on strike and the pressure is biting. Hit or miss, Bangladesh were going to run for it now, because a bye gives them a second chance in the Super Over.

In another famous example of Dhoni’s ‘keeping skills and mind for the game, the Indian captain anticipates this eventuality, and takes the right glove off. That way, he gives himself the best shot at hitting the stumps.

[caption id=”attachment_140882″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Bangladesh India Hardik Pandya is counselled by MS Dhoni during the last over[/caption]

Pandya is clever this time and bowls exactly as he should. He delivers this wide outside Hom’s off stump, making the batsman reach. Hom can’t quite get to it. Mustafizur takes off from the non-striker’s end, but so does Dhoni. He does not throw at the stumps.

It’s now a question of who is the quicker man. Better athletes than Mustafizur have paled in comparison to Dhoni’s agility on the field. The Indian captain sprints forward and breaks the woodwork. It’s not certain yet if he has succeeded, though.

After a review that nobody has the patience for, the third umpire flashes “OUT” on the Chinnaswamy’s giant screen, as the rafters came down in celebrations. Pandya goes down on his knees. Nehra leaps onto Dhoni. Kohli is… well, Kohli.

Bangladesh sink in their dugout. Mashrafe Mortaza can barely believe what has transpired. Dhoni is all nonchalance, as though none of this had happened. Bangladesh didn’t deserve to lose. But on a night when they were outplayed, India’s cooler head saw them through, as experience trumped skill.

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IndiaBangladesh International Cricket