In an action-packed second ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand, the umpire lost count of deliveries bowled by spinner Mahedi Hasan. The Bangladesh umpire Sharfuddoula made the mistake in the 47th over of New Zealand’s innings.
As a result, Mahedi bowled an extra delivery in his ninth over. However, the extra delivery did not cost both sides. New Zealand skipper Lockie Ferguson swung his bat against the right-arm off-spinner but missed the ball completely. No run was scored off the illegitimate delivery.
Sharfuddoula’s career as a cricketer and umpire
Sharfuddoula is a former Bangladesh domestic cricketer. The 46-year-old has played a total of 10 First-Class matches. The left-arm spinner has 31 wickets to his name. The Dhaka-born umpire is a veteran as he has stood as an on-field umpire in more than 150 games on the international stage in men's cricket.
Kiwis struggle
Earlier in the game, stand-in Kiwi skipper Ferguson won the toss and opted to bat first at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. Mustafizur Rahman was lethal with the new ball and got rid of both openers. The visitors lost their top order in the eighth over. Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell's 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket helped them recover. Nicholls missed his half-century and departed for a 61-ball 49.
Rachin Ravindra could not make an impact either. Blundell reached his half-century but he could not anchor the innings. Blundell was dismissed for a 66-ball 68. Cole McConchie and Kyle Jamieson got decent starts but could not bat till the end.
New Zealand would have been bowled out with few overs to go if not for skipper Litton Das' act of calling Ish Sodhi back after Hasan Mahmud ran him out for backing up too far. Sodhi's 39-ball 35 helped New Zealand post 254 on the board. For Bangladesh, Khaled Ahmed and Mahedi were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each to their name.
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