Cricket World Player of the Week - Mehidy Hasan Miraz

Mushfiqur Rahim was officially awarded the Player of the Match in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dhaka. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz had as big an impact on the match.

Courtesy of half-centuries from Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, Bangladesh posted 257 runs on a tricky surface in the series opener of the three-match affair between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

Sri Lanka looked good at the beginning and added 30 runs within the first five overs. It was Mehidy Hasan Miraz who got the home team the first breakthrough.

It is not common for off-spinners to bowl within the powerplay, especially in 50-over cricket but Mehidy Hasan not only kept it tight but also removed the dangerous Danushka Gunathilaka.

He then dismissed Kusal Mendis in the 19th over, Kusal Perera in the 22nd over and Ashen Bandara in the 28th over to reduce Sri Lanka to 102/6.

WICKET! Fourth in the match for Miraz, Bandara gone for 3. Sri Lanka are 102/6 in 27.3 overs. Target 258.#BANvSL pic.twitter.com/crSmXLDJPM

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) May 23, 2021

Miraz finished his spell with four wickets while conceding just 30 runs from his 10 overs. The bowler had an economy rate of 3.00 and two maiden overs in his tally. He played a vital role in Bangladesh's 33-run victory in the first ODI.

Mehidy is taking big strides in international cricket for a 23 year old and has now become an integral part of the Bangladesh side in all the three formats. In ODI cricket, he has an average of 35.23 with the ball and 16.41 with the bat. The underrated cricketer is on his way to becoming a successful all-rounder.

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