Visiting Zimbabwe vowed to make up for their lost ground with their bowling and fielding after they were dismissed for a modest total of 240 runs on the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Saturday. ‘We cannot change what we have on the board,’ said batsman Sikandar Raza, who laboured to score 51, his second Test fifty, which was also the highest score in their stop-and-start innings.
‘What we can change is how we bowl. Our bowling department has been doing really well recently and we will back ourselves. Hopefully, we can wrap it up before they can get to our total.’
Sakib al Hasan led Bangladesh’s spin attack to snare 6-59, he was brilliantly supported by debutant Jubair Hossain and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam as the trio claimed nine wickets together.
The wicket provided some invariable bounce, something which suited Sakib’s bowling very well, leaving Zimbabwe batsmen in dismay. When they were playing for the turn, Sakib left them surprised with bounce to make regular breakthroughs.
Pakistan-origin Sikandar, however, claimed exactly the opposite.
‘I think we read the wicket pretty well. There were a couple of balls that misbehaved and bounced a little more than we thought,’ he said. ‘But apart from that, the wicket played well. Normally, you come to Asia and expect low-bounce wickets.
‘This didn’t really surprise us especially since we come from a place where we are used to bouncy wickets, but I thought the wicket played well.’
Sikandar was rather taking the blame on himself for his untimely dismissal that spoiled some of their good works.
‘We were stringing a few more partnerships together,’ he said. ‘But our best batters got out. ‘I and Elty [Elton Chigumbura] had a forty-odd run partnership. I think the most disappointing was for me to get out at that time.
‘But it’s one of those things you take on board and learn,’ he said.
Sikandar added 52 runs with skipper Brendan Taylor to repair the innings after two early blows, but rookie leg-spinner Jubair left them in disarray after removing Taylor for 28.
The 28-year old Sialkot-born cricketer himself became the second victim of Jubair as Bangladesh erased the top half of Zimbabwe innings for 142 runs.
Sikandar, who spooned a catch to Mahmudullah, claimed that he was beaten in the mind more than the flight, but praised his predator Jubair saying he must have showed some talent to get himself selected.
‘For a guy who has not played first-class cricket, I think he is very talented,’ said Sikandar. ‘I would definitely give the credit where it’s due. I wish him the very best. I hope he has a long career.’
-With New Age input
