John Ward
|
2nd Test: Zimbabwe v Bangladesh at Harare, 26-30 Apr 2001 John Ward |
|
|
Bangladesh 2nd innings:
Zimbabwe 2nd innings: Pre-game: Bangladesh 1st innings: Zimbabwe 1st innings: |
Bangladesh began the day steadily but again lost a vital wicket just as they were looking settled, Habibul Bashar (76) chasing a ball from Heath Streak that moved away to be caught at the wicket. Then Naimur Rahman (36), who had been looking determined and solid, attempted a second run to Gavin Rennie, substituting for Andy Blignaut who had a leg injury, and was run out. Bangladesh, at 264 for seven and only the tail left, appeared to be on their way out.
As usual the tail did not last long. Enamul Haque (3) soon followed, caught at the wicket off Brighton Watambwa; Mohammad Sharif (0) was caught in the slips off Streak, and then Monjurul (0) snicked Watambwa to the keeper. Mushfiqur Rahman was unbeaten on 2 as Bangladesh were dismissed for 266, leaving Zimbabwe exactly 100 to win. Watambwa returned the best bowling figures with four for 64.
Bangladesh fought hard and Guy Whittall at times seemed to be playing the ball with his midriff as often as his bat. But their bowlers are not as lethal as Courtney Walsh and Co in the Caribbean a year ago, and the openers survived until lunch. Then immediately afterwards they managed to achieve their fourth run-out of the match, casual running and fine fielding from Javed Omer at third man resulting in the dismissal of Dion Ebrahim for 10.
Eight runs short of victory, Whittall was bowled for 60, attempting a big hit off a delivery from Enamul Hoque that turned out of the rough, but two powerful leg-side hits by Stuart Carlisle settled the issue.
Bangladesh began their innings steadily but again lost a vital wicket just as they were looking settled, Habibul (76) chasing a ball from Heath Streak that moved away to be caught at the wicket. Then Naimur (36), who had been looking determined and solid, attempted a second run to Gavin Rennie, substituting for Andy Blignaut who had a leg injury, and was run out. Bangladesh, at 264 for seven and only the tail left, appeared to be on their way out.
As usual the tail did not last long. Enamul Haque (3) soon followed, caught at the wicket off Brighton Watambwa; Mohammad Sharif (0) was caught in the slips off Streak, and then Monjurul (0) snicked Watambwa to the keeper. Mushfiqur Rahman was unbeaten on 2 as Bangladesh were dismissed for 266, leaving Zimbabwe exactly 100 to win. Watambwa returned the best bowling figures with four for 64.
Bangladesh fought hard and Guy Whittall at times seemed to be playing the ball with his midriff as often as his bat. But their bowlers are not as lethal as Courtney Walsh and Co in the Caribbean a year ago, and at lunch Whittall was still there with 22, while Dion Ebrahim had 10.
Play started 30 minutes early to make up time lost through rain on the third day. Streak, who obviously must have had his first Test century in mind, continued with Andy Blignaut as his new partner. The latter was soon attempting his usual aggressive style, altogether it took some time and a couple of narrow escapes before he began to find the middle of the bat. He then ran himself out for 15, probably feeling the pressure, attempting an impossible single to cover. It was the third run-out of the innings.
Mluleki Nkala hit seven runs in quick time before holing out to mid-off off Enamul Hoque; he might well have given Streak, now into the eighties, better support. Streak, however, struck a blow for sportsmanship when on 87 he slashed at a ball from Mohammad Sharif outside the off stump and walked for a catch to the keeper. Bangladesh won’t often find that in Test cricket. At this point, on 421 for nine, Zimbabwe declared. Tow wickets each fell to Sharif, Naimur and Enamul, while three Zimbabweans helpfully ran themselves out.
Bangladesh batted again with a deficit of 167. They lost Meerab Hossain in the fourth over without scoring, as he snicked Brighton Watambwa, opening the bowling, low to Blignaut at third slip. Streak again failed to find consistent length or direction but the batsmen were unable to profit unduly until Javed Omer hit him for two boundaries in an over. Javed and Al-Sahariar dug in with determination.
After lunch the batsmen continued to milk the uninspired Zimbabwe bowling for runs in a slow but steady flow, gradually becoming more positive until Al-Sahariar brought up his first Test fifty with a superb straight six off Raymond Price. Not long afterwards, though, Price removed Javed (43), with the help of a tumbling catch by Grant Flower in the gully.
Then Aminul Islam (2) fell in the same over, rather controversially adjudged lbw by umpire Doug Cowie as he unwisely padded up without playing a stroke to an arm ball. Bangladesh had undone the good work of their second-wicket pair and were now 99 for three. Al-Sahariar and Habibul settled in but, just as they were looking well set, Al-Sahariar (68) was tempted once too often by a bouncer from Watambwa and mishit his hook so badly that he was caught by Streak running round from mid-off.
After tea Habibul took advantage of the attacking fields to indulge in some powerful boundaries, and this inspired Akram as well, with Price being the main sufferer. Akram hit him for a six over long-on to avoid the innings defeat. Then Zimbabwe toiled to break through while the batsmen played with good sense and discrimination; then, once again, just as a major stand appeared to be developing, Khan (31) snicked Price to slip and Bangladesh were 203 for five.
Naimur Rahman (7) played out the day cautiously with Habibul, although Zimbabwe were astounded when he swatted at a bouncer from Watambwa outside off stump and the appeal for a catch at the wicket was rejected. Habibul (66) reached his second fifty of the match and lived to frustrate Zimbabwe another day.
After lunch the batsmen continued to milk the uninspired Zimbabwe bowling for runs in a slow but steady flow, gradually becoming more positive until Al-Sahariar brought up his first Test fifty with a superb straight six off Raymond Price. Not long afterwards, though, Price removed Javed (43), with the help of a tumbling catch by Grant Flower in the gully.
Then Aminul Islam (2) fell in the same over, rather controversially adjudged lbw by umpire Doug Cowie as he unwisely padded up without playing a stroke. Bangladesh had undone the good work of their second-wicket pair and were now 99 for three. Al-Sahariar and Habibul Bashar settled in and, as has happened so often for Bangladesh, just as they were looking well set, Al-Sahariar (68) was tempted once too often by a bouncer from Watambwa and mishit his hook so badly that he was caught by Streak running round from mid-off. At the tea interval Habibul (13) was still there with Akram Khan (2).
Play started 30 minutes early to make up time lost through rain on the third day. Streak, who obviously must have had his first Test century in mind, continued with Andy Blignaut as his new partner. The latter was soon attempting his usual aggressive style, altogether it took some time and a couple of narrow escapes before he began to find the middle of the bat. He then ran himself out for 15, probably feeling the pressure, attempting an impossible single to cover. It was the third run-out of the innings.
Mluleki Nkala hit seven runs in quick time before holing out to mid-off off Enamul Hoque; he might well have given Streak, now into the eighties, better support. Streak, however, struck a blow for sportsmanship when on 87 he slashed at a ball from Mohammad Sharif outside the off stump and walked for a catch to the keeper. Bangladesh won’t often find that in Test cricket. At this point, on 421 for nine, Zimbabwe declared. Tow wickets each fell to Sharif, Naimur and Enamul, while three Zimbabweans helpfully ran themselves out.
Bangladesh batted again with a deficit of 167. They lost Meerab Hossain in the fourth over without scoring, as he snicked Brighton Watambwa, opening the bowling, low to Blignaut at third slip. Streak again failed to find consistent length or direction but the batsmen were unable to profit unduly until Javed Omer hit him for two boundaries in an over. Javed and Al-Sahariar Rokon dug in with determination and survived until lunch, with 27 and 16 respectively.
The return of pace after lunch, with the second new ball, saw Zimbabwe increase the scoring rate again, and the batting seemed to be the most discriminating of the day. The partnership developed, almost a repetition of their stand in Bulawayo when the consolidated after some profligate early batting, although again perhaps too defensive at times.
This time Flower was first to his fifty, with Streak following just before tea. The match in many ways was becoming a repetition of Bulawayo, with the same two players steadying the side after early indiscretions.
Monjurul Islam pitched each of the first three balls of the day short of a length; Alistair Campbell pulled each one with perfect timing between mid-on and midwicket for four, before cutting the fourth between slips and gully for another boundary. Two runs came off the final ball; in a Test match, have the first four balls of a day’s play ever been hit to the boundary before, or 18 runs scored off the opening over? One Bangladeshi correspondent jokingly suggested that this was the result of commentator Ian Botham giving their bowlers some tips the previous day! The difference is that Botham used to get wickets from long hops. Perhaps this exhilarating start persuaded the Zimbabweans that the bowlers were ripe for plunder, but it wasn’t that easy.
Bangladesh recovered quickly enough, though, to have Stuart Carlisle caught at short leg off Mohammad Sharif for his overnight 21 in the day’s second over. Andy Flower, on his 33rd birthday, came in with the chance to set up a new record of eight consecutive Test fifties, and was dropped at short leg on 3 from a hard chance. He indulged in one or two extravagant strokes early on and did not look as permanent as usual. Bangladesh optimistically kept attacking fields, which assisted the free flow of runs.
Campbell soon reached his fifty, which came off 73 balls altogether; he moved from 22 to the landmark off just 20 balls this morning. Flower (23) missed the world record through a mixture of brilliant fielding by Javed Omar at backward point off a cut by Campbell, and his partner’s late change of mind over a single that left him stranded in mid-pitch.
After drinks Grant Flower decided to join in the rampage, hitting Naimur Rahman for a six, badly missed by a gentleman in the crowd, and a four only inches short of the boundary. Campbell was badly dropped at mid-on on 68, which cooled him down temporarily, before on 73 he swept Naimur to be caught low at midwicket. Heath Streak appeared to approach the task with greater determination, while Flower dropped straight back into bottom gear.
In a slow morning session, Bangladesh added a further 55 runs for the loss of just one more wicket, to reach lunch with a score of 253 for seven as Zimbabwe battled unsuccessfully to break through. Their bowling varied between the wayward and moderately taxing, and if safe occupation of the crease was the main concern, then the tourists could be said to have done a pretty good job.
Heath Streak bowled a somewhat more testing line just outside off stump when opening the bowling and Mushfiqur Rahman (2) was eventually and almost inevitably out nibbling a catch to the keeper. Akram Khan put his head down and accumulated steadily, while Enamul Hoque mixed solid defence with the odd lusty boundary blow, mainly off the flighted left-armers of Raymond Price.
Brighton Watambwa almost dismissed Akram on 38 as Mluleki Nkala caught him on the fine –leg boundary off one of the few really attacking strokes he was prepared to make, but the fielder could not help stepping on the rope as he did so.
Streak took the vital wicket with the third ball after lunch, as Akram, still on 44, snicked an awayswinger straight to Alistair Campbell at first slip. Mohammad Sharif, officially but dubiously still 15 years old, was quickly caught by Stuart Carlisle at second slip off Brighton Watambwa without scoring and two balls later Manjural Islam snicked the same bowler to Campbell again.
The last three wickets had fallen in ten minutes and 11 balls after lunch for just one run, Enamul finishing unbeaten on 20, and Bangladesh were all out for 254. Streak (for 38 runs in 30 overs) and Raymond Price both took four wickets.
Zimbabwe began cautiously against some good opening overs by Manjural Islam, but gradually Guy Whittall and Dion Ebrahim began to open up, mixing positive strokes with aggressive running between the wickets. Whittall pulled anything short with time to spare, and the gulf in not so much class as experience between the two teams was obvious.
Whittall reached his fifty soon after tea, but then fell to a not unfamiliar mode of dismissal for him, run out, hesitating before deciding to go for a quick single. He made 59 of an opening stand of 90. This slowed down the scoring considerably, and Ebrahim (39) finally fell in Naimur Rahman’s first over, trying to sweep and scooping a catch to short fine leg. Zimbabwe were 104 for two.
Carlisle began slowly, but soon found Naimur Rahman no more threatening and less verbal than Shane Warne had been, and pulled him twice for trademark sixes. Campbell, with the occasional airy shot, settled in well until both decided to play for the close, when they finished on 21 and 22 respectively.
Heath Streak took the vital wicket with the third ball after lunch, as Akram snicked an away-swinger straight to Alistair Campbell at first slip and was on his way for 44. Mohammad Sharif, officially still only 15 years old, was quickly caught by Stuart Carlisle at second slip off Brighton Watambwa without scoring and two balls later Manjural Islam snicked the same bowler to Campbell again.
The last three wickets had fallen in ten minutes and 11 balls after lunch for just one run, Enamul finishing unbeaten on 20, and Bangladesh were all out for 254. Streak (4 for 38 in 30 overs) and Raymond Price both took four wickets.
Zimbabwe began cautiously against some good opening overs by Manjural Islam, but gradually Guy Whittall and Dion Ebrahim began to open up, mixing positive strokes with aggressive running between the wickets. Whittall pulled anything short with time to spare, and the gulf in not so much class as experience between the two teams was obvious. By tea the pair had reached 72, with Whittall on 43 and Ebrahim 26.
Heath Streak bowled a somewhat more testing line just outside off stump when opening the bowling and Mushfiqur Rahman (2) was eventually and almost inevitably out nibbling a catch to the keeper. Akram Khan put his head down and accumulated steadily, while Enamul Hoque mixed solid defence with the odd lusty boundary blow, mainly off the flighted left-armers of Raymond Price.
Brighton Watambwa almost dismissed Akram on 38 as Mluleki Nkala caught him on the fine –leg boundary off one of the few really attacking strokes he was prepared to make, but the fielder could not help stepping on the rope as he did so. Akram was on 44 at lunch, after having 15 overnight, and Enamul had 19.
Heath Streak, with some bitter experience of the pitch behind him, put Bangladesh in to bat on winning the toss, expecting the usual early life. There was indeed a certain amount of movement, but it was not excessive and the bowlers did not bowl quite well enough to take full advantage of it. The outfield, dead slow for the one-dayers, had improved to be merely slow. After the first hour, it could almost be described as a 400-run pitch coupled with a 200-run outfield.
Javed Omar was not to repeat his superb batting double of Bulawayo, as with only a single to his credit he snicked Streak to Andy Blignaut at third slip. Mehrab Hussain and Al-Sahariar stood firm for a while against bowling that did not apply enough pressure and were helped by the occasional mis-field. Then Streak showed what might have been achieved by consistent accuracy as Al-Sahariar (11) failed to keep down a rising ball and was well held by the diving Grant Flower in the gully.
Runs came at just under two an over, but it was not really an absorbing struggle. Bangladesh might have felt reasonably satisfied at lunch with two wickets down on a pitch assisting the bowlers had not Ray Price been brought on to bowl his left-arm spinners just before lunch, and had Aminul Islam caught at slip by Alistair Campbell for 12. Mehrab was still there, having batted through the session for a watchful 21.
With the pitch as usual playing more easily after lunch, Mehrab and Habibul Bashar settled in and then began to take toll of the bowling, choosing skilfully the right deliveries to hit. Mehrab enjoyed two lives, one early on and a second after reaching his 50. The scoring rate gradually increased and Zimbabwe toiled without taking any more wickets by tea. Mluleki Nkala was the most economical of the pace bowlers but Blignaut and Brighton Watambwa were wayward.
Runs came at just under two an over, but it was not really an absorbing struggle. Bangladesh might have felt reasonably satisfied at lunch with two wickets down on a pitch assisting the bowlers had not Ray Price been brought on to bowl his left-arm spinners just before lunch, and had Alistair Campbell not caught Aminul Islam at slip for 12. Mehrab was still there, having batted through the session for a watchful 21.
Although Zimbabwe won the First Test in Bulawayo, they played well below their potential, with undisciplined batting from some players and some wayward bowling from an attack that, Heath Streak apart, was very inexperienced. They recognize their faults and are determined to improve, as are Bangladesh, who have the genuine excuse of gross inexperience at Test level.
Heath Streak, with sometimes bitter experience of the Harare Sports Club pitch behind him, put Bangladesh in to bat on winning the toss, expecting the usual early life. General opinion was that it was the right decision, provided his bowlers, including himself, were more accurate than they were in Bulawayo. However, there is not much grass on the pitch and there is hope that it will prove to be one of the venue's better tracks.
The teams are as follows:
Zimbabwe: Guy Whittall, Dion Ebrahim, Stuart Carlisle, Alistair Campbell, +Andy Flower, Grant Flower, *Heath Streak, Mluleki Nkala, Andy Blignaut, Raymond Price, Brighton Watambwa.
Bangladesh: Javed Omar, +Mehrab Hossain, Al Sahariar Rokon, Habibul Bashar, Aminul Islam, Akram Khan, *Naimur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahman, Mohammad Sharif, Enamul Hoque, Manjural Islam.
Bangladesh have replaced the injured Khaled Mashud with Al Sahariar Rokon, while Mehrab Hossain will keep wicket and open the batting, in the first innings at least.
Pace bowler Hasibul Hussain, after a poor match in Bulawayo, has been replaced by left-arm spinner Enamul Hoque. Zimbabwe have replaced Brian Murphy, who has an arm injury, with their left-arm spinner Raymond Price.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 30 Apr2001 - 18:42