Donald lauds ‘excellent’ Ebadot

Bangladesh pace bowling coach Allan Donald lauded Ebadot Hossain due to his brilliant bowling effort on the rain-hit third day of their second Test against Sri Lanka in Dhaka on Wednesday.
With 39 overs having been lost to rain, Sri Lanka ended the day on 282-5, only 83 runs behind Bangladesh’s first innings total of 365.
Ebadot’s figure of 2-78 might seem ordinary but with the delivery that he bowled night-watchman Kasun Rajitha for a duck in the second ball of the morning, was a treat to watch.
The right-arm pacer angled his wicket ball into Rajitha, then got it to seam away to beat the outside edge and hit off stump – a delivery that might have had a far more competent batter in trouble.
Ebadot bowled 26 overs with a low-priced economy of 3.00 and the former South African fast bowling legend felt that the Bangladesh pacer could have clinched four or five wickets if luck was on his side.
The pacer could have the prized wicket of Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne for 37 on the second day if the hosts didn’t held back from reviewing an lbw appeal.
Ebadot soon got his reward for good bowling as he dismissed Oshada Fernando, who gave a catch to Najmul Hossain at slip for 57.
Later Karunaratne went on make 80, still the top score of the Sri Lankan innings.
‘Ebadot was outstanding today [Wednesday]. You know when you see someone in the warm-up, and you know something about him will click today. Scoreboard doesn’t reflect the way he bowled today. He could have walked away with four or five
wickets,’ said Donald following the end of third day’s play.
Donald also backed the other pacer Khaled Ahmed, who remained wicketless so far, to use the wicket intelligently in the fourth morning.
‘That’s what the spell was worth. Khaled hasn’t really got it quite right, but tomorrow is a massive day. We need some early poles in the morning. The pitch too gives us a bit to work with every morning.’
The Protea great believes that that the missing of pacer duo Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam in the series is also a great opportunity of learning for Ebadot and Khaled.
‘Shoriful unfortunately fractured his finger. Taskin is a great miss. But sometimes someone missing a game is another one’s opportunity,’ he said.
‘Ebadot and Khaled have another opportunity to learn, and I want people to be vigilant and patient with their process. Khaled is learning all the time.’
Donald was also full of praise of Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who finished the day with 3-59 wickets.
‘I have been a great admirer of Shakib. When AB says it is tough to get down to Shakib, then it must be tough. He is a smart operator. He changes his pace really subtly,’ Donald added.
‘He showed again, chipped away. Hopefully he walks away with a five wicket haul tomorrow. It is awesome to have him in the team. His experience and leadership is priceless.’