Tigers’ 3-Day Warm-up Match
Batting falters once again
The Bangladesh batsmen are running out of time to prepare themselves for the one-off Test from August 4.
On the second day of the Tigers’ lone three-day practice match, Imrul Kayes, Junaed Siddiqui and Shahriar Nafees all fell within an hour after Zimbabwe XI were shot out for 113 in the first innings earlier on Sunday.
Mohammad Ashraful, after a confident 28, and Mushfiqur Rahim, the first-innings top-scorer, gave away decent starts as the Tigers were bowled out for 147 runs in only 47.5 overs later in the day at the Interfin Bank High Performance Centre ground.
However, the home team got into trouble immediately in their second attempt as they were reduced to two for 3 runs in 2.1 overs before stumps were drawn.
Only skipper Shakib Al Hasan patiently waved away short ball after short ball and made 40 off 82 balls before miscuing a pull shot off Kyle Jarvis towards the fag end of a cold day.
Otherwise, it was a poor second outing against the second-string Zimbabwe pace attack and with only two days left, the Tigers are banking on a remarkable turnaround in confidence.
Imrul needed to make best use of the second innings since he is the only one among the top-order’s left-handed trio who hasn’t played a first-class game since the Manchester Test last year. But he was clean bowled off the first ball of the second innings by seamer Keegan Meth.
Junaed then had his off-stump knocked back by a Jarvis delivery that he left alone in the fourth over. Shahriar Nafees, having struck four boundaries on a wicket that could be best described as sporting (or underprepared), was brilliantly caught by Forster Mutizwa off a Tendai Chatara delivery. He did battle for his 20 and though he looked confident at times, it didn’t last long.
Mahmudullah Riyad’s opportunity for a top-order promotion was hurt by his impetuousness, the right-hander trying too many shots and getting out after hitting a nice boundary.
After Ashraful glided one down the leg to give Tatenda Taibu a simple caught behind, the Tigers were again reduced to five for 63 by the 20th over, slightly better than the 5-31 in the first dig.
Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim went to tea on five for 78, but the wicketkeeper who made 64 on Saturday, holed out to deep mid-off off Prosper Utseya to end a 36-run stand between the duo.
The morning session saw Robiul Islam staking a claim for a Test place after a strong spell as the home side were bowled out for just 113.
He made use of the movement available but more importantly, held the correct line for most of his eight overs in the morning session. Though he lacks the genuine pace, Robiul looks to be a good enough foil for Shafiul Islam’s aggression at the crease.
Both picked up three wickets each with Robiul taking out the left-hander Craig Ervine, who batted out more than an hour for his 21, and last man Tendai Chatara with one that bounced much to add to his one from the first evening.
Nazmul, too, impressed in his miserly 12-over spell though it looks unlikely he would replace Rubel Hossain in the one-off Test match at the bouncy Harare Sports Club ground.
Abdur Razzak’s bowling in this game was of high interest for Bangladeshi observes and though the left-arm spinner bowled just six overs, he did pick up two for 20.
Though Shakib didn’t bowl in the first innings, it is likely that the Tigers will go into the game with a three-man seam attack as Shafiul, Robiul and Nazmul bowled 39 of the 45 overs needed to bowl out the hosts.
-With The Daily Star input
