Shakib Al Hasan steals the show
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Mid-way through an overcast morning, Bangladesh were in a familiar predicament: the top-order had failed and Shakib Al Hasan, the reluctant captain, was saddled with the responsibility of achieving a target his spinners could defend on a pitch that assisted turn. Having had ample practice at this challenge, Shakib went about it manfully, but he also had an able ally, according to website cricinfo.
His risk-free batting was at odds with Mushfiqur Rahim's impish stroke play but their 116-run stand was the bedrock of the highest total of the series. It proved more than enough.
Shakib waited only three overs before entrusting the defence of 246 to a spinner. He had to wait only three balls to see that decision yield results. Abdur Razzak continued his torment of Zimbabwe in this series: his quick strikes decapitated the chase, his economy brought it to a standstill and Bangladesh were assured of a 2-1 lead by the time the mandatory Powerplay was over.
The heart of the victory lay in the way Bangladesh, for the second time in succession, batted satisfactorily. They didn't begin in that manner, though, and were 71 for 4 in the 20th over, when Shakib and Mushfiqur began their alliance. The Zimbabwe spinners had tightened the tourniquet on the run-flow and Shakib had been watchful - a back-foot cut through point would be his only boundary for 54 balls. Little Mushfiqur, in contrast, was anything but watchful at the start of his innings, slicing Prosper Utseya just wide of the fielder at point before dispatching the next ball to the midwicket boundary with a dismissive swat.
Bangladesh innings:
Tamim Iqbal lbw b Mpofu 0
Imrul Kayes c Taibu b Utseya 33
Junaid Siddique c Utseya b SW Masakadza 1
Raqibul Hasan lbw b Utseya 12
Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Utseya 73
Mushfiqur Rahim c SW Masakadza b Utseya 63
Naeem Islam not out 23
Suhrawadi Shuvo st Taibu b Price 8
Mashrafe Mortaza not out 11
Extras: (b 1, lb 8, w 13) 22 Total: (7 wickets; 50 overs) 246
Zimbabwe innings:
BRM Taylor c Junaid Siddique b Abdur Razzak 15
CJ Chibhabha lbw b Abdur Razzak 7
H Masakadza st Mushfiqur Rahim b Abdur Razzak 3
T Taibu b Mashrafe Mortaza 3
CR Ervine c Mushfiqur Rahim b Shafiul Islam 5
RW Chakabva lbw b Abdur Razzak 5
P Utseya c Imrul Kayes b Shafiul Islam 67
AG Cremer st Mushfiqur Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 24
SW Masakadza c Mushfiqur Rahim b Shafiul Islam 14
RW Price c Suhrawadi Shuvo b Shafiul Islam 14
CB Mpofu not out 0
Extras: (b 4, lb 4, w 16) 24 Total: (all out; 48.1 overs) 181
Series: Bangladesh led the 5-match series 2-1
Player of the match: Abdur Razzak
His risk-free batting was at odds with Mushfiqur Rahim's impish stroke play but their 116-run stand was the bedrock of the highest total of the series. It proved more than enough.
Shakib waited only three overs before entrusting the defence of 246 to a spinner. He had to wait only three balls to see that decision yield results. Abdur Razzak continued his torment of Zimbabwe in this series: his quick strikes decapitated the chase, his economy brought it to a standstill and Bangladesh were assured of a 2-1 lead by the time the mandatory Powerplay was over.
The heart of the victory lay in the way Bangladesh, for the second time in succession, batted satisfactorily. They didn't begin in that manner, though, and were 71 for 4 in the 20th over, when Shakib and Mushfiqur began their alliance. The Zimbabwe spinners had tightened the tourniquet on the run-flow and Shakib had been watchful - a back-foot cut through point would be his only boundary for 54 balls. Little Mushfiqur, in contrast, was anything but watchful at the start of his innings, slicing Prosper Utseya just wide of the fielder at point before dispatching the next ball to the midwicket boundary with a dismissive swat.
Bangladesh innings:
Tamim Iqbal lbw b Mpofu 0
Imrul Kayes c Taibu b Utseya 33
Junaid Siddique c Utseya b SW Masakadza 1
Raqibul Hasan lbw b Utseya 12
Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Utseya 73
Mushfiqur Rahim c SW Masakadza b Utseya 63
Naeem Islam not out 23
Suhrawadi Shuvo st Taibu b Price 8
Mashrafe Mortaza not out 11
Extras: (b 1, lb 8, w 13) 22 Total: (7 wickets; 50 overs) 246
Zimbabwe innings:
BRM Taylor c Junaid Siddique b Abdur Razzak 15
CJ Chibhabha lbw b Abdur Razzak 7
H Masakadza st Mushfiqur Rahim b Abdur Razzak 3
T Taibu b Mashrafe Mortaza 3
CR Ervine c Mushfiqur Rahim b Shafiul Islam 5
RW Chakabva lbw b Abdur Razzak 5
P Utseya c Imrul Kayes b Shafiul Islam 67
AG Cremer st Mushfiqur Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 24
SW Masakadza c Mushfiqur Rahim b Shafiul Islam 14
RW Price c Suhrawadi Shuvo b Shafiul Islam 14
CB Mpofu not out 0
Extras: (b 4, lb 4, w 16) 24 Total: (all out; 48.1 overs) 181
Series: Bangladesh led the 5-match series 2-1
Player of the match: Abdur Razzak