Shahryar Khan
|
2nd ODI: Bangladesh v Pakistan at Dhaka, 24 Jan 2002 Shahryar Khan |
|
|
Pakistan innings:
Pre-game: Bangladesh innings: |
The overs bowled following the second drink interval saw the Pakistani batsman plunder a hapless Bangladeshi attack. It might have been Younis Khan, who reached his fifty from 66 balls, but Youhana was the one to celebrate it, hoisting Mahmud, over the top of long off, for the first six of the day. A little while later, he too was raising his bat in acknowledgement of his fifty, brought up by pushing Mahmud to mid-wicket. It had taken him 71 balls and the aid of six fours and a six to do so.
Youhana's fifty was a sign that the floodgates were about to be opened. Both batsmen took the opportunity to whack the loose balls on offer - and there were plenty of them - for boundaries to all parts of the ground.
Sanwar Hossain, who had pouched a brilliant catch earlier, grounded the one Younis offered when he was on 69. Hossain jumped almost a yard to get hold of the ball that was racing past him but it managed to escape his grasp after scraping past the edge of his fingers.
Younis didn’t last for long after this lucky escape; he got out to Enamul Haque after playing a lofted sweep straight down the throat of Javed Omar fielding at mid-wicket. In all, he needed 83 balls to notch up his 73, an innings featuring five boundaries.
Razzaq, who replaced him, was soon into his stride. A spirited Bangladesh side displayed agility in the field, yet they found it too difficult to stem the regular flow of boundaries. Both Razzaq and Youhana unleashed a barrage of shots in the slog overs. Pakistan reached 242 for 5, after the completion of 47 overs with Youhana (90) on the verge of his eigth one-day century.
The next over saw Youhana slam successive boundaries of Mohammed Sharif, and this he followed with a couple, to reach his hundred after a 125-minute and 101-ball stay. He celebrated the milestone with another six off Enamul Haque that flew beyond the long-off fence.
Razzaq, who made a rapid-fire 49 off 35 balls, then blasted Sharif for another big six. At the end of 50 overs, Pakistan had piled up 281 for 5. For Bangladesh, Mohammed Sharif, who claimed two wickets for 59, was the most successful bowler.
But the pressure was relieved by Yousuf Youhana when spin was brought on from one end. Youhana came up with three boundaries off left-arm spinner Enamul Haque in successive overs.
Though Pakistan's first 87 runs had come relatively slowly (off 26 overs), the Bangladeshi bowlers were gradually losing venom.
Younis and Youhana both chanced their arm, and Enamul conceded 32 runs from his first 5 overs as both batsmen chipped ones and twos against the change bowlers to keep the scoreboard ticking.
At the second drinks interval Pakistan were 129 for four after 34 overs, with Younis on 49 and Youhana 38.
While Afridi was quiet, Navid Latif managed a couple of boundaries off Mohammed Sharif. But Latif (10) surrendered to his frustration in the fourth over, playing a wild shot off Sharif that saw him caught at deep fine leg. First wicket had fallen with the score at 21.
In his following over (the sixth) Sharif struck his second blow, forcing Shahid Afridi to edge a simple catch to Khaled Masud. Afridi scored just four leaving Pakistan in the uncomfortable position of 2/23.
The two quick wickets forced Inzamam and Younis to consolidate. Runs came slowly, as the next four overs yielded just three.
Inzamam threw his wicket away in the eleventh over, pulling Manjural firmly to Sanwar at mid-wicket. Inzamam had managed just three runs from 23 deliveries.
At drinks Pakistan were wobbling on 44 for three with Azhar Mahmood and Younis Khan at the crease.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 24 Jan2002 - 19:04