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Bowling in tandem sharpens Tigers

Admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:18:24 +0000

Bangladesh will go into the second Test match against South Africa looking to capitalise on their confidence given by their bowlers who bowled in tandem to put them in a comfortable position in the series opener in Chittagong. Bangladesh were forced to remain content with a draw after rain washed out the last two days of the match that they dominated first with the ball and then with the bat.
The Tigers surprised the visitors by bowling them out for 248 runs in their first innings that was most pleasing for the side which had struggled with their Test bowling in the recent past.
Debutant Mustafizur Rahman injected a fresh blood in their attack picking 4-37 and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain complemented with three scalps to remove the tail.
Mohammad Shahid, among the six bowlers used the only one not to get a wicket, also made his contribution by bowling 51 successive dot balls that created pressure on the opponents.
When head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe announced prior to the Test match that his charges are capable of picking 20 South Africa wickets it raised a suspicion, but the Tigers forced the doubters to eat a humble pie with their collective efforts.
They got the 10 wickets on a first day track and could have done the same on the fourth day only had rain not stood in their way.
For bowling coach Heath Streak it was the pleasing part of the Test match and he is confident similar efforts won’t be far fetched in the coming days.
‘I think bowling in partnership was the key to our success,’ Streak told New Age on Sunday.
‘It was an area that we emphasised and being able to execute our plans was really pleasant to watch from the boundary line.
‘I think we managed to do that [bowling in partnership] quite well in the first innings and as a result could book them in less than 250 runs [248].
‘We have variety in our bowling attack and probably that is the reason we are confident that we can pick 20 wickets.’
Streak said that knowing when to attack and when to defend is crucial in Test matches where things keep changing through every session and not always go to the way of one team all the time.
‘Test cricket bowling is all about knowing when to attack and put pressure on the opponents and when just put your focus on doing things so that they don’t take the game away from you,’ said Streak.
For him one of the best parts of the match was the performance of unsung hero Shahid, who went wicketless but did not concede a single run between lunch and tea break on the opening day to leave South Africa frustrated.
‘He created the pressure and others reaped the success,’ said Streak. ‘He was really unlucky not to have wickets in his tally. It really was a superb bowling effort by Shahid that pushed the South African on the back foot.
‘I think he understood his role perfectly and did not focus on trying anything else.
‘That was the beauty of his bowling because often when you don’t pick wickets you tend to lose your head,’ said Streak.
Shahid added that he would have cherished if those missed catches were taken but he is not utterly dejected given he played his part to help the Tigers get their first draw against the Proteas.
‘I won’t say that I was unlucky but if the catches were taken my bowling spell could have looked better,’ Shahid told New Age on Sunday as the team returned to Dhaka.
‘I was concentrating on bowling on the same line as that was the plan,’
‘I was told that if I can manage to bowl on the same area it will be difficult for them and even if you don’t pick wickets you still will be helping the team.
‘I am happy to be able to do that and work as per plans,’ said Shahid.

-With New Age input

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Rain halts Tigers’ victory push

Admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 05:52:34 +0000

Bangladesh will be confident going into the second Test match against South Africa in Dhaka as draw looks inevitable after rain washed out the fourth day’s play in the first Test in Chittagong on Friday.
Unless a dramatic improvement of weather, which has a very slim chance, a full 90 overs of play on the fifth day is very unlikely meaning the game is now all but over for both the teams.
Match officials called off play at 1:25pm at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium where South African players did not even turn up knowing the outcome while some of the Bangladeshi players used the time only in the indoors.
‘It’s frustrating for the players,’ Bangladesh manager Khaled Mahmud told reporters on Friday.
‘It was a thrilling contest but due to rain this contest looks to be heading towards a draw,’ said Mahmud.
‘We played well in this Test match and we were ahead till yesterday but now due to rain both teams look to be evenly balanced.
‘With the look of the sky there might not be any play at all on tomorrow [today].’
South Africa, who made 248 in the first innings, bowled out Bangladesh for 326 and reached 61-0 in their second knock when bad light forced an early stumps with 24.5 overs left to be bowled on the third day.
Openers Stiaan van Zyl was unbeaten on 33 and Dean Elgar on 28 not out as the tourists trim Bangladesh’s first innings advantage of 17 runs by the end of third day’s play.
Though draw looks to be a natural outcome considering the weather it won’t be satisfying for the Tigers unlike many other occasions when they were are at the receiving end.
Bangladesh were firmly in the contest, putting up a brave show in all the three days to bowl out their illustrious opponents cheaply before posting their highest score against the side in nine Tests.
Their first innings also completed a circle for the Tigers who have now scored 300 runs against each Test playing country and batted over 100 overs against all at least once in Test matches.
The Tigers came out from their defensive-mind set of picking eight batsmen and took the field with four regular bowlers along with all-rounder Sakib al Hasan to challenge the opponents and they were quite successful in their strategy.
They followed their good work with the ball through some skillful batting display against one of the most feared bowling attacks in the world.
It gives an impression that they were not willing to surrender meekly against the illustrious names like pace trio Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander.
Statistically it will be their biggest achievement as they lost all eight of their previous Test matches against the Proteas. Seven of their defeats came by innings margin and other by five wickets.
‘We would certainly take the confidence into our next match,’ said Mahmud.
The second and final Test of the two-match series will be held in Dhaka from July 30 to August 3.

-With New Age input

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Rain washes out fourth day’s play in Chittagong

Admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 18:19:27 +0000

Rain washed out the fourth day’s play in the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa on Friday, leaving the chance of a result bleak.
Match officials called off play at 1:25pm local time (07:25GMT) as rain continued to grow heavy at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
South Africa, who made 248 in the first innings, bowled out Bangladesh for 326 and reached 61-0 in their second knock when bad light forced an early stumps with 24.5 overs left to be bowled on the third day..
Openers Stiaan van Zyl was unbeaten on 33 and Dean Elgar on 28 not out. The tourists still trail by 17 runs.
The second and final Test of two-match series will be held in Dhaka from July 30 to August 3. – See more at: http://newagebd.net/140231/rain-washes-out-fourth-days-play-in-chittagong/#sthash.9jJZDj1K.dpuf

-With New Age input

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Tigers set fighting lead, SA close in

Admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:36:28 +0000

Rain robbed Bangladesh of a chance to push South Africa harder in the first Test after it ate up nearly 25 overs of the third day in Chittagong on Thursday.
The Tigers recorded their highest score of 326 runs against South Africa to take a vital 78-run first innings lead and was then looking to take a few wickets in the evening session.
But rain and bad light forced early stumps for the second consecutive day.
South Africa reached 61-0 in 21.1 overs in their second innings to trim the lead down to just 17 runs. The two openers Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar survived unscathed at 33 and 28 respectively, giving South Africa an opportunity to regroup and correct their first innings mistakes today.
Bangladesh had their moments on the third day as Sakib al Hasan and Liton Das shared a 82-run partnership for the sixth wicket to take them to the lead, before tail-ender Mohammad Shahid belted 25 off 19 balls.
Sakib (47) and Liton (50)
came together at time when they were still in danger of losing their way, having resumed the third day’s play at 179-4 and lost skipper Mushfiqur Rahim early to Dale Steyn.
Steyn outthought Mushfiq making him play repeatedly, before hitting him plumb in front to get his first success of the day. Umpire Joel Wilson initially declared Mushfiq not out but South Africa successfully reviewed the decision to send back the Bangladesh captain, who could only add 12 to his overnight 16.
Sakib struggled initially but grew in confidence after hitting medium pacer Stiaan van Zyl for two back-to-back fours. Liton batted with more conviction driving Steyn straight to take Bangladesh past South Africa’s first innings total.
Liton then hit JP Duminy, who was surprisingly introduced in the attack only in the third day, past cover, to help Bangladesh surpass their previous highest score of 259 runs against South Africa.
With Bangladesh scurrying ahead, Sakib made a big blunder, apparently in pursuit of his maiden a fifty against South Africa, when he top-edged spinner Simon Harmer to get dismissed.
Sakib attempted the same shot four balls earlier in the same over but his miscued pull landed in no-man’s land. Harmer then tested him with a little-bit fuller ball and the Bangladesh talisman duly obliged.
The biggest entertainment came moments later when Shahid hit Harmer for three fours and a six in his next over to take 18 runs. He showed the same aggression against a more accomplished bowler Vernon Philander and paid the price by offering a low, diving catch to van Zyl at midwicket.
Liton completed his maiden Test fifty in his second Test two overs later nudging Harmer to the leg side for a single, but was caught off-guard by an awkward bounce in the same over to end his innings.
It was too much of an ask for Bangladesh’s tail-enders to keep the innings going against such a quality attack and they inevitably failed. Steyn claimed the last two wickets to finish with 3-78, moving closer to becoming second South African bowler to take 400 wickets in Tests.
Steyn needs just one more wicket to join former captain Shaun Pollack, which will also make him only third among the current cricketers after Harbhajan Singh and James Anderson to get 400 wickets.

-With New Age input

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Tigers claim they are in driving seat

Admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:32:38 +0000

Bangladesh believe they are still ahead in the first Test despite South Africa whittled down their first innings advantage to 17 at the end of third day’s play in Chittagong on Thursday.
Bangladesh’s bowlers failed to establish their authority in the second innings leaving South Africa unharmed in more than 21 overs they batted before bad light and light shower forced early stumps.
Openers Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar took South Africa to 61-0 with unbeaten innings of 33 and 28 respectably that allowed the visitors to claw their way back into game.
They will be hoping to bat out the fourth day and set a reasonable target for Bangladesh that would give them a fair chance to win the game and take 1-0 in the two-match Test series.
But Bangladesh batsman Liton Das said they can still bowl out South Africa with an under-par score in the second innings and chase that down to post what would be very memorable win for them.
‘I think we are still ahead of them. It is slightly harder to score runs on this wicket,’ Liton said after third day’s play in Chittagong. ‘It may have been better had we taken 2-3 wickets early but still, I would say we are ahead.’
Liton, however, set a pre-condition for the bowlers, saying that they must bowl in good areas to put South African batsmen under pressure.
‘We have to bowl well. If we can be disciplined, it will help us,’ said Liton. ‘I would ask our bowlers to bowl wicket-to-wicket, there’s help in the wicket.
‘It would be better if we can chase 150 to 200 runs in the fourth innings.’

-With New Age input

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South Africa take it session by session

Admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:31:40 +0000

South Africans are not thinking ahead and will try to play session by session in the last two days of the first Test match of two-match Test series against hosts Bangladesh in Chittagong.
South Africa conceded a lead of 78 runs in the first innings as Bangladesh replied their first innings total of 248 with a 326-run innings. At stumps on the third day, the visitors amassed 61 runs without loss to reduce the deficit to 17.
The number one ranked Test side conceded a first innings lead against the Tigers for the first time in a Test match but they were not thinking much beyond the first session of the fourth day and want to move on from there on.
Despite the presence of three seam bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, who all are in the top 10 in the Test bowlers’ ranking, Proteas young off-spinner Simmon Harmer played a pivotal role on the third day.
Playing only his second Test match, Harmer finished the innings with a return of 3-105 including the key wickets of Sakib al Hasan and Liton Das, the two most successful batsmen of the day.
‘I think we need to make sure that we set ourselves a good base tomorrow morning ‘, said Harmer.
‘From there these discussions will start with the senior players and the management regarding the way forward in the game,’ he indicated about setting a target and outcome of the match.
The 26-year old hailed the two openers of his side who negotiated the Bangladeshi bowlers successfully before the rain halted the game and he also said that the pitch was already deteriorating.
‘Yeah it has deteriorated quite a bit so far obviously the subcontinent you know that coming into day three spinners will come into the game’, said Harmer.
‘It was enjoyable bowling on these wickets. I came around the wicket today and the ball was still turning. Back home you might not be able to get that sort of purchase from the wicket.
‘Dean [Elgar] and Stiaan [van Zyl] did a good job today evening to go unscathed in that last session especially with the bad light and the rain around.
‘I think the first session is going to be our target tomorrow and not too much past that.’
At the same time Harmer also praised the Tigers for their resilient batting, which allowed them not only to set their highest ever run against the Proteas but also their highest ever first innings lead while batting second in a Test match.
‘They batted well. A couple of their players really batted well. They didn’t give us any chances’, said the off-spinner.
‘I think what we bowled them out for is a respectable total.’

-With New Age input

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Tigers grind out advantage on rain-curtailed day

Admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 12:27:03 +0000

Bangladesh were nicely poised in the first Test against South Africa at 179-4 before rain brought a premature end to the second day’s play in Chittagong on Wednesday.
The visitors threw everything at the hosts after Bangladesh bowled them out cheaply for 248 runs, but the batsmen successfully negotiated their bowlers to retain the advantage.
Tamim Iqbal provided the necessary resistance to score his first fifty against South Africa and Mahmudullah built on the start to score 67, taking Bangladesh to a comfortable position before rain intervened.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, 16 not out, will resume the innings with Sakib al Hasan today, the third day of the match, hoping to take the Tigers close to 400 runs in order to give them a chance to put South Africa under pressure.
Things could have been much better for Bangladesh had Mahmudullah not been dismissed just before rain halted play as Vernon Philander trapped him leg-before.
Philander’s wicket was the only success for South Africa’s much-talked-about pace trio, who struggled to make an impact on the slow
wicket at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Dale Steyn swung the ball both ways and looked to have produced some reverse swing at times while Morne Morkel took some extra bounce from a hard pitch, without any reward.
Bangladesh played them cautiously but did not give them any undue respect, which helped them keep the scoreboard ticking amid relentless pressure from the pace trio.
Their part-timers, meanwhile, found the opportunity to take some wickets, giving the side regular breakthroughs and not allowing Bangladesh to put any big partnership.
For Bangladesh it was important to negotiate the new-ball threat and Tamim and Imrul Kayes did the job successfully, putting on 41 runs in their opening stand.
Imrul lost his concentration once South Africa introduced part-time medium pacer Stiaan van Zyl, who dragged the opener out of his crease for a stumping, which end his watchful innings at 26.
The most awkward part of Bangladesh’s innings came moments later when one-down Mominul Haque attempted to cut a delivery of off-spinner Simon Harper that was too close to his body.
The ball, which was also a quicker, beat Mominul and crashed onto his stumps, leaving him out for six, and putting Bangladesh in some trouble at 2-55.
Tamim and Mahmudullah helped the Tigers recover with an 89-run second wicket stand denying South Africa any chance of making an inroad.
Tamim was uncharacteristically watchful during his innings, hitting just two boundaries, before he completed his fifty off 119 balls. He fell to Dean Elgar, another part-timer, who bowled the left-hander with a full toss just when he was looking set for a big innings.
Tamim took overall 129 balls for his inning and hit just three fours. His innings was also a statement of sorts from Bangladesh, suggesting they were not willing to give up anything without a try, at the least.
They can make the third day a very long one for South Africa should they stick to the same strategy.

-With New Age input

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Advantage Bangladesh

Admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 12:26:13 +0000

Anyone familiar with Bangladesh cricket will think twice before calling them favourites in first Test against South Africa after they lost four vital wickets to score 179 runs in the rain-hit second day on Wednesday.
The Tigers collapsed from much better positions in the past to hand oppositions the advantage, a tendency which is partly responsible for their dismal record in Test cricket.
But with their new-found confidence following some outstanding results in limited-over cricket, they are now a completely different outfit, one that can take their chances against any opposition.
At least this is what they believe. Even the oppositions also believe it, despite being fully aware of their vulnerability in tight situations.
The Tigers came within the touching distance of South Africa’s first innings total of 248 runs, trailing them by just 69 runs at stumps, a deficit which they believe now can be wiped out without any fuss.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim is still at the crease unbeaten on 16 and he is being accompanied by Sakib al Hasan, who can bat with authority and they give the home side some realistic hope.
06If Mushfiq and Sakib can take Bangladesh something close to 400 runs, the game will turn completely to their way, said batsman Mahmudullah, Bangladesh’s top-scorer so far in the innings with 67.
‘I think 400 runs are still very much possible for us in the first innings,’ Mahmudllah said after the day’s play. ‘If we can do this the match is ours. All we need is another big partnership. I am hopeful because we have still got Mushfiq and Sakib at the crease.’
South Africa’s bowling coach Charl Langeveldt had no hesitation to admit that the game is lurking 60 percent towards Bangladesh already, but Mahmudullah claimed that they are even in a better position than it has been perceived by the opposition.
‘It would have been nice if we were able to take the lead today,’ said Mahmudullah as rain forced an early stumps with 25 overs left on the second day. ‘A lot of things depend on first innings. It will determine whether we are in driving seat or on back foot.
‘The good thing is that at present we are in a comfortable position. If we can take a big lead in the first innings they will be under pressure.
I think we have 60 per cent chance of winning this match at the moment. It could be even 65-35 percent in our favour. We have got a long batting line up. Usually we don’t get this kind of opportunities, so we are determined to take our chance.’
Some of Bangladesh’s confidence came from the way they handled South African pacers on the second day, frustrating their pace trio Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander for a long period.
It took the South African pacers 67 overs to make their mark when Philander trapped Mahmudullah in front. For a team vulnerable against quality pace bowling this was no mean an achievement for Bangladesh.
‘Pace is something which always matters,’ said Mahmudullah. We faced some really quick bowlers in Pakistan Test. South African bowlers were also very quick, especially Steyn, who can swing the ball both ways. Philander is also the same. So it was really good experience for us.’

-With New Age input

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Positive Tigers reap rich rewards

Admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 17:03:15 +0000

Bangladesh came out of their defensive mindset in Test match cricket to reap rich rewards, bowling out South Africa cheaply for 248 in the first innings, to seize early momentum in the first of the two-match Test series, in Chittagong on Tuesday.
The Tigers, much criticised in recent matches for playing with eight batsmen, abandoned the idea this time and dropped an in-form Soumya Sarkar to accommodate an extra bowler.
It produced a result beyond imagination as all six bowlers they used made some valuable contribution to put them firmly in control at stumps on the first day.
Debutant Mustafizur Rahman led the way with 4-37 while leg-spinner Jubair Hossain justified his constant backing from coach Chandika Hathurusinghe to finish with 3-53.
Before Mustafiz and Jubair got into the act, the other bowlers did their part creating enormous pressure to which the South African team offered a meek surrender, despite a brisk start.
South African captain Hashim Amla did not think twice to bat first after he won the toss, and Stiaan van Zyl along with Dean Elgar put 58 runs for the opening stand to give them a good foundation.
Mahmudullah removed van Zyl for 34 runs to bring the Tigers their first breakthrough but South Africa were still on top scoring 104 runs in the opening session.
The momentum swung Bangladesh’s way once Mohammad Shahid bowled five maiden overs in a row to pile the pressure on the batsmen, who finally fell to left-arm spinners Sakib al Hasan and Taijul Islam.
Taijul ended Elgar’s vigil at 47 and Sakib delivered
in the next over trapping Faf du Plessis in front for 48, to leave Amla and the lower-middle order to rebuild the innings.
South Africa then had a ‘what-just-happened’ moment when Mustafiz ripped through their batting line-up in one magical over, which could have brought him a wicket for each of his six deliveries.
He made Amla his first Test victim in the first ball of his 14th over after the South African captain made just 13 and then hit JP Duminy on his front foot, crying out loud for a leg before, in the next ball.
Joel Wilson, himself a debutant Test umpire, turned down the appeal, prompting Bangladesh to go for a review to get the decision reversed.
Quinton de Kock somehow parried the hat-trick ball but was late on a defensive push in the next delivery to see his off-stump cart-wheeling and completing Bangladesh’s turn around.
Jubair took care of the tail-enders after the Mustafiz burst, first making happy-going Vernon Philander provide a catch to Sakib at slip for 24, before dismissing Simon Harmer and Dale Steyn.
Temba Bavuma was still at the crease to keep South Africa floating, but Mustafiz returned in his next spell to have him caught by Tamim Iqbal at deep midwicket.
Imrul Kayes dropped at least two catches at slip, including one by Bavuma, a specialist batsman, who could have taken South Africa toward a respectable total.
Thanks to Mustafiz he had to stop at 54, his maiden Test fifty, which became South Africa’s highest innings eventually.
Imrul’s slippery hands denied Shahid a wicket, something which could have been a fitting reward for his extremely tight bowling, but on a day when every other thing went to Tigers’ favour, he had to console himself with the team’s success.
Opener Tamim Iqbal (one not out) and Imrul (five not out) remained unscathed to take Bangladesh to 7-0 as the Tigers kept their advantage intact before bad light ended the day’s play two overs earlier than the stipulated 90 overs.

-With New Age input

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SA succumb to ‘world-class’ Mustafiz

Admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 16:57:55 +0000

Debutant pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s brilliant spell denied South Africa a chance to put a commanding total despite a promising start, said batsman Temba Bavuma after opening day’s play in the first Test.
South Africa, opting to bat first on a placid wicket, were bowled out for 248 runs as Mustafiz ripped through their innings with his 4-37, which included three wickets in the space of four balls in one magical over.
Playing only his third match, Bavuma staged a lone fight to score 54 runs, his maiden Test fifty, which gave their innings some decency if not complete respectability.
‘I think for Bangladesh that’s when the momentum swung in their favour,’ Bavuma told reporters. ‘From that point they just kept on nailing it down on us and we weren’t able to recover from there,’ said Bavuma.
‘The spell form their left-arm bowler was world class and unfortunately we just got caught wanting today.
Bavuma insisted that he had enough home work about Mustafiz’s bowling, knowing that he could be instrumental in the Test series after making an impressive start to his limited over career.
Mustafiz managed to trouble the African batsmen in the ODIs with his five wickets in his final two matches, which followed a remarkable debut against India when he picked 13 wickets in just three games.
It was suggested that top team will soon have a better understanding of the bowling and decipher the mystery but Mustafiz has been proving all wrong in every passing day.
Bavuma, who was not a part of South Africa’s Twenty20 and ODI squad, said he talked to his team-mates to get an idea about Mustafiz’s bowling without any success.
‘I am not much of a video guy,’ he said. ‘But I talked to the guys to get a kind of awareness and understanding of how different it is facing him, especially those quick cutters.
‘It did take me a bit of a while. His ball grips a lot on the wicket so you generally have to wait a lot longer with the ball,’ he said.
‘We were just trying to have some kind of a game plan against him,’ he added.
Bavuma added that Bangladesh were mentally strong then the visitors as they crawled back to take the control despite being at the receiving end in the opening session.
Tigers made a remarkable turnaround in the second session as the Proteas slipped from 104-1 at lunch break to get dismissed without crossing the 250-run mark.
‘When we had opportunities to try and get a better momentum in our innings we kind of lost it there,’ said Bavuma. ‘Maybe mentally we were quite weak at times.
‘I think it wasn’t our best day. We were on top till lunch, a 130 or something for 1 and then to be bundled out for about 250. it’s not about our best day,’ he said.

-With New Age input

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