All-rounder Ziaur Rahman gave himself a chance to play another Test after his four-wicket haul in the second innings played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s 143-run win
over Zimbabwe in the second Test on Monday.
Zia, making his Test debut, faced huge criticism for his ordinary batting in both innings and has not made any significant contribution with the ball in the first innings playing as the third seamer.
Bangladesh badly missed the services of a third seamer in the first Test and Zia was flown in to Zimbabwe immediately along with Shafiul Islam after Shahadat Hossain and Rubel Hossain fell to injuries.
Nobody has questioned his selection as Bangladesh had no better option available. His ability to hit the ball hard played a big part in his selection as Bangladesh were desperately looking for someone who can contribute some runs down the order.
Zia was the kind of cricketer they were looking for, but the all-rounder could not help himself with his batting. Instead of providing any late impetus he looked intimidated, raising a doubt if he has any Test material in him.
With Robiul Islam firing on all cylinders, he did not require to bowl that much in the first innings. Mushfiqur Rahim had given him just seven overs and he did a fair job by containing the batsmen, though he never looked like the one to get a wicket.
He was not expected to bowl very much in the second innings, but after an overused Robiul lost all his energy to penetrate Bangladesh needed someone to rise to the occasion.
Zia responded to the need of the hour giving the team two crucial breakthroughs on the fourth day before returning to do a similar job on the fifth and final day to expedite the win.
His all four wickets were crucial at a time when Zimbabwe were aiming high.
He ended the resistance of Brendan Taylor and Malcolm Waller, the two batsmen who caused immense sufferings to the Tigers in the first Test, and then took the wicket of Richmond Mutumbami and Graeme Cremer, effectively ending Zimbabwe’s chance of salvaging a miraculous draw.
Musfiq used him in long spell which only reflected his confidence on Zia, who until this Test match, was known only as a bit-and-piece all-rounder.
His bowling also proved some good work of the National Cricket Academy manager Richard McInnes, who guided him for the last few months.
‘We always knew that he has the ability to bowl in the right area consistently,’ McInnes said on Monday.
‘We gave him the confidence and he put it into performance. His strength was not his pace but his line and length and bowl in the same area consistently. He did exactly that in this Test match.
With Bangladesh playing their next two Test series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka at home, a seaming all-rounder like him could have easily come in for an additional spinner.
But Zia, with his match-winning contribution in Harare, can now stake a claim very well for himself even in the home series where a pace bowling all-rounder is always considered redundant.
-With New Age input
