Taskin’s discipline pays huge dividends

Taskin Ahmed was lucky to get a chance to bowl after coming in as ODI cricket's first-ever concussion substitute when he replaced Mohammad Saifuddin in the second match against Sri Lanka, but the seamer utilised that opportunity at a time when it was required most.

The 26-year-old had been dropped from the second game after going wicketless in the first game for the concession of 62 runs from nine overs. But the pacer, who has been in fine rhythm since his comeback to the international circuit earlier this year, displayed promise and maturity as a bowler at the second time of asking.

He has been a touch unlucky as well, with catches dropped off his bowling regularly, but the encouraging part is that Taskin managed to focus on the process rather than the outcome.

That led to the performance in the second ODI, when, although he went wicketless, Taskin drew praise for bowling a very good line and length and conceding just 27 in his eight overs in defence of a modest 246-run total.

But despite bowling brilliantly, it was important that Taskin got among the wickets to gain confidence and the tall pacer finally broke the jinx by picking up his third four-wicket haul in ODIs yesterday.

On a pitch in the third ODI that was not ideal for seamers with the ball coming onto the batsmen pretty well, Taskin's effort took a lot of discipline, especially considering that he did not have the best of starts. When he was introduced into the attack in the ninth over of the innings, the seamer's wayward bowling cost 12 runs.

But with Bangladesh desperate to break the dangerous opening stand between Kusal Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka, Taskin was the one who finally provided the all-important breakthrough, setting up Gunathilaka with two-short pitched delivery to start the over. The left-hander, unaware of the trap, went for an expansive shot as Taskin pushed the length further up. Gunathilaka was undone by the change of length and only managed to get inside and hit the timber.

The presence of mind from Taskin reflects maturity. He realised the nature of the surface early on and changed his length to force the batsman to play around the off stump.

Taskin also removed Pathum Nissanka in the same over with a beautiful length delivery outside off, with the right-hander caught in two minds and only managing a knick to the keeper.

Taskin once again provided the breakthrough for the Tigers in his second spell. This time Kusal Mendis was undone by some extra pace from Taskin as the right-hander skied a banged-in delivery to give a simple catch at mid-off.

It was an ideal game for Taskin, who bowled in various situations and once again made an impact in the death overs. He picked up his fourth wicket in the 49th over of the innings to end with figures of four for 46 from nine overs.