Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was taking inspiration from the team’s second innings batting in the first Test as they moved to St Lucia on Wednesday for the second and final Test against West Indies. Bangladesh were thrashed by 10 wickets in the first Test, but they at least showed some courage in the second innings when they posted 314 runs on the back a century by Mushfiq.The effort helped them avoid the innings defeat, which at times looked a certainty after they were folded for 182 runs in the first innings, replying to West Indies’ mammoth 484-7 declared.
‘One positive thing is that the way we batted in the second innings, if we can carry that hopefully we will get a good result in the next Test,’ Mushfiq said at the post-match briefing. ‘The guts batsmen showed in the second innings, if it persists, I think in the second Test we can score at least 600 runs in two innings.
‘Before the Test series I told that our chance of taking 20 wickets is miraculous, because our bowlers do not have the similar pace like them. Also we have just one specialist spinner, but I think our batsmen have the ability to score 600 plus run.
‘If you score 600 plus runs, there is a chance of draw in any Test and this is what our target is now,’ he said.
Mushfiq added that he was hopeful of saving the first Test after the efforts of Tamim and Mahmudullah, who slammed a fifty each and played a key role in taking the game into the fifth day.
‘To be honest after seeing Riyad Bhai’s [Mahmudullah] batting I did not think we can lose,’ said Mushfiq. ‘If we could survive at least one hour on the last day, we had the ability to prolong the innings until tea.
‘West Indies fielded for nearly 160 overs [in two innings], so they were also tired, and I thought we had a chance.
‘Unfortunately it did not happen because we lost three wickets in the first hour, from there it was difficult to make a comeback,’ he said.
Mushfiq was the last batsman out for 116 as Bangladesh could add just 58 runs to their overnight score of 256-4 on the fifth day, which left the win all but a formality for West Indies.
He was stranded at 94 when the ninth wicket fell, leaving him in danger of running short of partners. But Al-Amin Hossain somehow managed to give him the striker allowing the batsman to complete his century with a six off Kemar Roach.
Mushfiq then ensured West Indies bat again as an edge flew over the slip cordon for a boundary to give Bangladesh some kind of lead. The skipper hailed Al-Amin’s efforts and hoped the others will take their lesson.
‘When two and three wickets fell, I thought maybe I am going to miss it. I told Al-Amin that you just try, if it happens fine, otherwise no problem and he did that,’ he said.
Mushfiq, however, did not want to get carried away after the century.
‘It’s a kind of mixed feeling you can say,’ said Mushfiq. ‘If you do well individually but the team does not get result you are still failed.’
-With New Age input
