Mashrafee bin Murtaza finally found his form and rhythm that he was looking for ever since his comeback from injury, in the third one-dayer of the five-match series against Zimbabwe on Monday.
Mashrafee started the third match like a man on a mission, bowling superbly from ball one. His line and length were excellent and he took full advantage of the cloudy condition by pitching the ball in and out at his will to keep the batsmen confused.
Though the fruit of his hard work came later than everyone had expected but it was inevitable as he clean bowled Tatenda Taibu with his first ball of the eighth over. The entire team burst into celebration as the wicket won the match for Bangladesh.
The body language of Bangladesh players suggested that they were desperately looking for Mashrafee to get a wicket and when he finally succeeded it was not just him but the other players also heaved a sigh of relief.
For Bangladesh to do well in this series and in the upcoming World Cup the fast bowlers need to perform well especially Mashrafee, and the Tigers know that and so they all were cheering him on throughout the game.
Skipper Sakib al Hasan hugged him twice, first after his wicket and then before delivering the next ball, a scene that quickly allayed any fear of feud between them.
Sakib’s statement after the first game gave an impression that he might be against picking a half-fit Mashrafee, but the skipper finally showed he had nothing against his predecessor. Mashrafee was given eight overs on the trot and until he got his first wicket Sakib kept faith in him.
It seemed that even the Mother Nature was in Mashrafee’s favour as the third ODI started in an overcast condition, perfect for a fast bowler. Mashrafee earlier had said the conditions were not suitable for the pace bowlers in the first two ODIs because the wicket was slow and dry. In the third ODI he could not ask for a better condition to bowl in as the clouds and a light drizzle continued throughout the day.
In his first spell Mashrafee conceded only 17 runs in eight overs. The over in which he picked up the wicket was also a maiden over.
Sakib was understandably very ecstatic.
‘The positive point of this game was that Mashrafee bhai bowled really well and that’s the reason he bowled eight overs in his first spell. I have said it before if he plays a couple of games he will be back in form in no time, and today (Monday) was his day and the confidence he gained today will help him in the next game and in the future,’ a delighted captain said at the post-match briefing.
At the end of the third ODI against Zimbabwe Masrafee’s bowling figures stood at – 10 overs, one maiden, 20 runs and one wicket.
