Micromax ODI CUP – Bangladesh vs New Zealand
Tigers paint Kiwis red & green
With the series-winning trophy, the man-of-the-series award and two more prizes in the bag, Shakib Al Hasan mentioned that the acquisition of a brand new gift had helped them win the fifth and final one-dayer against New Zealand in such a tense fashion, completing the unexpected 4-0 rout.
“When you have the mentality of a winning team, you can get out of any situation,” said the No 1 all-rounder in the world both in words and in effort.
Bangladesh only made 174 runs from 49.3 overs and during the lunch break, it was partly expected that they would make a fist of it. It was the lowest total they have defended successfully, their previous best being the 185 they defended against Scotland four years ago.
Shakib was in the thick of things again, directing traffic and making important bowling changes in a bid to protect the small total, but New Zealand’s collapse was never unlikely.
He used Rubel Hossain perfectly in the conditions, letting him share the new ball with Shafiul Islam. Rubel destroyed the Kiwi top-order and made sure they never made an effort to touch the required run-rate during the first 20 overs.
“We knew it was possible because this is how winning teams work. If we had been losing, we could have easily given up quite early,” said Shakib while talking to the reporters during the series-ending press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
“Things are different now and the win has made me very happy,” he added. The left-hander again starred with the bat, scoring 36 important runs but his dismissal sparked the Tigers’ collapse.
“We did not bat according to how we planned. But our spirit made sure we pulled through,” he said.
But despite his untimely dismissal, Shakib picked up two wickets and made sure he was always around when his bowlers were in operation. Shakib has usually been the cheerleader of the team and while he was tired in the fourth game, he was back at his vocal best.
He got the better of Nathan McCullum, the Kiwi outfoxed by a flighted delivery as he raged into a charge during a crucial time for the visitors. The send-off, after McCullum got into a tiff with one of the Tigers, was a sign of the team’s confidence. “I really enjoy these little words we have with each other in the middle. They tell me something, I give them a reply, I think it’s fun,” he said frankly after being asked about the incident.
Rubel, sitting beside Shakib, looked pleased with his man-of-the-match performance of four for 25. “This is my first man-of-the-match and this could change my life,” he said.
Asked about the pressure of bowling a final over of the match, Rubel said that his skipper’s words were important for him.
“Shakib bhai encouraged me even after I got hit for four. They needed eight runs but we needed just one wicket so I was always confident,” said the 20-year old Rubel, adding that the bad memories of the tri-series final of early 2009 where he gave away a lot of runs was not in his mind.
But the cause for concern — Powerplay and the form of Junaed Siddiqui and Rokibul Hasan — was also on Shakib’s mind as he wanted the duo to get back among the runs soon. “I want all the players, including them, to score runs in the National Cricket League. It worries me slightly but not much because they are capable of making big scores,” he said.
“We didn’t bat our best in the series but our bowling and fielding were up there,” he added.
Shakib’s captaincy has certainly won him a lot of praises again after his year-long stint that ended with the Asia Cup in June. Now, his return to the top is seen by many as a permanent move after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza again got injured and will be out for almost six more weeks.
“I have a better record as a captain but I don’t know how that happens. When I’m out in the field, I take the best of six or seven options but when I bat, I hardly ever think of captaining.
“I think a long-term role is important as it gives the captain time to have a vision and take decisions accordingly,” he said.
