Sports Reporter
It is always worth watching Mohammad Ashraful bat but he is so inconsistent that one cannot even recall the last time he had a good effort.
The 24-year-old Bangladesh skipper returned among runs in style with a hundred but the problem was that it took too many innings in the middle to see the right-hander blazing again.
The right-hander chose his favourite opponents to put an end to his long run drought as it was the right-hander’s fourth hundred, overall fifth, against the Lankans but even another century could not comfort the doubters.
So, he had to face the cruel question despite his 101-run knock: When will we see you bat like this again?
“I have been trying my best and working hard to be consistent. After playing international cricket for last eight years what I realized is that there was a problem in my game plan. Sometime I try to be over-cautious and sometimes too free with my license to attack,” said Ashraful, who expressed his satisfaction over his side’s effort in the first Test.
“I was also confused about my batting as I chose an over cautious approach after a good innings but the time has come to play with one game plan and I hope that this time I will be consistent,” he added.
There is always a chance for Bangladesh when this little man is batting and the fifth and final day of the first Test was no exception as he took charge after resuming the day on 70 to put pressure on his opponents.
Ashraful completed his fifth hundred within an hour of the day’s play to produce anxious moments for Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene who was in dire need of a breakthrough.
An overpitched delivery by Chaminda Vaas was scooped over mid-off to the fence for his century and Ashraful punched the air twice, which gave the evidence of how desperately he was looking to overcome from his poor form.
The job was then just half done but the Bangladesh skipper made the mistake of putting an end to the 112-run partnership with Shakib Al Hasan which brought a big smile on the face of his opponents skipper, as Bangladesh went for lunch on 373-6, still 148-run behind the target.
Ashraful was trapped lbw when he shuffled a touch and tried to work it to the on side while Vaas delivered from over the wicket and landed it on middle and leg. The fans however saw a different approach from the ace batsman during his 193-ball 101 that contained 16 boundaries.
“I think we played a good match. We never thought about the result but there was a chance for us if my partnership with Shakib survived at least one session. But after my dismissal Mushfiqur was there and he proved his worth again,” said Ashraful when asked about his dismissal.
“Mushfiq and Shakib batted brilliantly to keep hopes alive but the unfortunate dismissal of Shakib shattered our hope,” he added.
The Bangladesh skipper however was happy with the way they finished the year.
“We had created chances in four Tests in this year (2008), so we are looking for a much better performance in the coming year. And I must say Shakib was the find in this year as he replaced the retired Rafique (Mohammad Rafique) successfully, which is a good news for our cricket,” said Ashraful.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
