test cricket - Dhaka Mirror

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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‘Swanny’ Shuvagata keeps on struggling

Admin — Sat, 09 May 2015 06:43:44 +0000

Bangladesh’s Shuvagata Hom is yet to find his feet in Test cricket despite being given repeated chance since last year.
The inclusion of Shuvagata in the Test squad against Pakistan never came without questions as his role in the team is yet to be defined clearly. While coach Chandiaka Hathrusinghe believes him to be one of the best off spinners in the country, chief selector Faruk Ahmed said on Friday that he was primarily considered as a batsmen who can also bowl.
‘I think we included him as a batsman but recently he is bowling well,’ Faruk told reporters at Mirpur.
‘It was more a demand of the team management.
‘But to be honest there is no point in carrying someone at eight who cannot be used as a full-time bowler,’ Faruk said.
Shuavagata, who is pamperedly called as ‘Swanny’ in the dressing room by Hathurusinghe, who found a lot of similarities in him with Graeme Swann, the retired English off-spinner, who claimed 255 wickets and scored 1370 at 22.09 in 85 Tests.
If morning is an indication of the day, Shuvagata is however nowhere close to matching the feat of Swann, having taken just eight wickets in six Tests and scoring 165 runs.
He needed to come up with his batting potential when Tigers required him the most on Friday but failed to do so.
The approach of the all-rounder only suggested that he was not sure what he needs to do to fill up his responsibilities.
Three wickets all together in two innings of Pakistan and a golden duck only suggest that his he has done little justice to his team.
Star all-rounder Sakib al Hasan is also little amused by his confused showing.
‘If he [Shuvagata Hom] has a recognised batsman at the other end, he can put together a substantial partnership,’ said Sakib.
‘Bangladeshi batsmen have scored 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s at No 7 and 8 in the past. Since he is a specialist batsman, he can bat with the tail-ender.
‘There is chance to contribute, but it is not easy,’ he added.

-With New Age input

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BCB celebrates 10 years of Test

Admin — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 02:56:27 +0000

The Bangladesh Cricket Board celebrated the nation’s 10 years of Test cricket with a colourful ceremony at the Bangladesh Army Stadium on Saturday.
The programme turned out to be the biggest gathering of current and former cricketers who represented Bangladesh in Test and other forms of international cricket.
One of the major attractions of the programme was the unveiling of Test Cap, a tradition of Test cricket which Bangladesh never followed in the past.
A newly-designed Test Cap was presented to all 59 cricketers, who played Tests for Bangladesh so far. The members of the inaugural Test were the first to receive the cap, led by their skipper Naimur Rahman.
A total of 12 cricketers of the inaugural Test against India were on the podium to receive their caps with Akram Khan and Al Shahriar only missing it. Akram is currently on a personal tour in Thailand while Shahriar has settled in New Zealand.
The other cricketers followed them to receive their caps, something which is regarded as the lifetime achievement of a cricketer.
A pall of gloom descended on the ground when former skipper Habibul Bashar went to receive the cap on behalf of Manzarul Islam, the only Bangladeshi Test cricketer who is not alive.
After a series of speeches the celebration began with video projector showing the sweetest moments of Bangladesh’s Test cricket which included the century of Aminul Islam in the inaugural Test, 100th Test wicket of Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Ashraful’s highest ever Test innings against India, the winning six of Sakib al Hasan against the West Indies and the century of Tamim Iqbal at Lord’s.
It was followed by the presentation of Test cap and a choreographic show performed by Sadhana Dance Group. Six of the Bangladesh’s seven Test captains came onto the podium with Mashrafee bin Murtaza, who went Sri Lanka to see his doctor last night, being the only absentee.
Hundreds of spectators who bought tickets to watch the programme, however, chanted slogans at one stage demanding his inclusion in World Cup squad.
The celebration was followed by cultural programme performed by different band groups.
Earlier, BCB president AHM Mustafa Kamal announced they will give Tk 50 lakh, one fourth of Tk 2 crore they received from sponsor of the event Grameenphone, to 25 cricketers for their wellbeing.
Finance minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith attended the programme as chief guest.

Via: New Age

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