1st ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Chittagong, 23 Nov 2001 CricInfo Live Report

1st ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Chittagong, 23 Nov 2001
Shahryar Khan

Pre-game: Before Starting,
Bangladesh innings: Before Drinks, Before 2nd Drinks, End of Bangladesh innings,
Zimbabwe innings: Before Drinks, Before Drinks, Before 2nd Drinks,

WISHART AND CARLISLE CONSOLIDATES

After drinks Rafique and Mahmud bowled two maiden overs to keep the pressure on. The required run rate was 3.3 per over. Bangladesh desperately needed another wicket at that moment to gain the upper hand; on the contrary Zimbabwe required a partnership.

Craig Wishart was batting judiciously; waiting for the loose ball to come to play big shots. He slammed two fours in two consecutive overs. The second one came off Fahim Muntasir, a right-arm off spinner, who was playing his debut match today. Wishart was in very good form and scored two tons in two Test innings here (96 & 114), both were packed with aggressive shots.

He was putting the same show here in the one-day too. Zimababwe had managed 59 for 3. Carlisle was batting at 30 and Wishart 26.

When Sanwar was brought in to attack Carlisle welcomed him with a magnificent boundary in his first ball. Wishart hammered the offie for a huge six over long on. An attacking Wishart sent the last ball to the rope once again for another four. 17 runs came off Sanwar’s over to take the tourist tally to 88 after 27.

In the following over he smashed Sharif hitting the bowler for successive boundaries. He slammed his eight four off Sharif; a superb shot to watch that sprinted through extra cover rope.

At drinks Zimbabwe were 123 for 3.

MASHRAFE PUT A GOOD SHOW

Zimbabwe needed 157 runs at 3.14 per over. Grant Flower faced the first over off Mashrafe, accepted as the fastest bowler of the country. Grant did not try to play the balls pitched far out side the off stump and Mashrafe got a maiden. No hurry for Zimbabwe as the target is simply obtainable.

Mashrafe drew first blood for his country as he pulled up the middle stump of Grant Flower in his following over, the 3rd one in the innings. The batsman, beaten by the pace, had nothing left except watching his stumps cart wheeling. Mashrafe got his second maiden with a wicket and Zimbabwe 1 for 1 after 3 overs.

Gripper and Carlisle eased the pressure taking some quick runs from the next two overs. Soon hosts saw the second success on 7th over. This time Gripper, the man-in-form turned out to be the victim of a run-out. Gripper made 7 before he was a meter away from his crease when the throw from Mashrafe broke the stumps. Zimbabwe 13 for 2 after 7. The pressure was creeping in once again and Andy Flower came on to the crease at that moment.

Mashrafe struck for the second time to capture the very precious wicket of Andy Flower. The master batsman departed for 6 as he edged an out swinger off Mashrafe to Fahim Muntasir at gully. The ball pitched short out side the off stump and was moving away from the batsman, who nicked it only to offer the catch. Andy left Zimbabwe struggling at 20 for 3.

Craig Wishart hit two fours in the next overs; he struck the second one off Mashrafe that raced to the deep cover fence.

At drinks Zimbabwe were 46 for 3 after 16 overs.

MASHRAFE PUT A GOOD SHOW

Craig Wishart hit two fours in the next overs; he struck the second one off Mashrafe that raced to the deep cover fence.

At drinks Zimbabwe were 46 for 3 after 16 overs.

SKIPPER MASUD BATTED WELL

Bangladesh reached 100 on 35th over and the Partnership between Bashar and Masud stood for 41. Friend was brought on the attack again with Mariiler to continue from the other.

When the partnership added exact 50 runs before Habibul Bashar was yorked by Travis Friend. The most successful batsman in this series failed to fend off the quick ball that pitched on the block hole to uproot his leg stump through his angled bat. He made 44 and was looking steady throughout except the last delivery that surprised him.

Left-handed Mohammed Rafique flicked Marillier to the third man fence for a four to take Bangladesh to 114 for 6. Rafique was called in the squad as he played superbly in India for Bangladesh-A. He hit Streak to long-off rope to get his second four. The next ball was smashed through deep point for a two. It is worth mentioning that Rafique has a knock of 77 against Kenya in ODI. He played that match as an opener with Athar Ali Khan.

In the following over Rafique whacked Earvin to long-on fence for his third boundary. He was trying to go for risky shots that could cost his wicket at any moment.

At last his attacking innings saw its end off Garry Brent. Rafique lifted a ball that flew straight to mid-on fielder to present Brent his third wicket. Bangladesh 134 for 7. They have seven more overs to go with three wickets in hand.

Mashrafe-Bin-Mortaza fell prey to a deceptive slower off Earvin when the lanky Bangladeshi went into his front foot trying to clear the ball over square leg. The ball simply took a moderate turn to clip the bails off. Bangladesh lost their 8th wicket at 144.

Khaled Masud smashed Earvin in the same over for a four to deep square leg boundary. He wanted to arrange his first day as captain with something memorable. He was batting with 38 just twelve runs short of his second ODI half-century.

A brilliant piece of fielding by Friend off his own delivery brought the tragic finish of the Bangladeshi skipper. Masud pushed Friend gently to silly mid-wicket and raced to the other end with out noticing the bowler, who also rushed to the ball and broke the stumps before the batsman could reach. Good innings from the Bangladeshi skipper, he made 40 that included 2 fours.

Streak lean bowled Sharif and Bangladesh ended up with 156 on the board in 47.3 overs.

MASUD AND BASHAR FORMING A PARTNERSHIP

While Bashar was searching for singles and twos Sanwar started playing defensively. Earvin was bowling at tight length giving no room for the batsman to go for shots comfortably.

Brent dispatched Sanwar in the following over when the batsman foolishly attempted a lofty shot only to become a catch between cover and mid-off. With his departure Bangladesh lost their last recognized batsman. The board showed 55 for 4, a score that forecasted a low total for the home team.

Veteran Khaled Mahmud came on to the crease. He is a real basher of the ball, made 47 against India in his first appearance in the International arena.

Much was depending on him, but he frustrated the crowd a little after Sanwar’s departure. It was Brent to create the upset once again. Mahmud drove with an angled bat obviously tried to hit over the mid-on, but he mistimed it and a lollypop catch waited for fielder present there, who took it easily. Bangladesh lost their fifth batsman at 59.

For Khaled Masud it was a kind of ordeal as he was playing his first one-day as a skipper. He and Bashar dealt the Zimbabweans carefully choosing only singles and twos to move the score. Masud depended on singles where Bashar found the gaps rather easily to go for occasional shots.

At drinks Bangladesh were 98 for 5 after over 34.

NOT A GOOD START FROM BANGLADESH

Al-Sahariar and Mohammed Ashraful opened for Bangladesh today in their first ODI of the Coca-Cola series against Zimbabwe. The host lost the toss and had to bat first. There are few changes in the squad. For Tushar Imran and Fahim Muntasir, this is their debut match. Sean Earvin, who made some good runs in the practice ODI, is playing for Zimbabwe today.

Bangladesh made a good start when they managed 13 runs from the first three overs. Both batsmen looked pretty comfortable against Streak and Friend. The first blow came in the 4th over from a horrible mix up. Al-Sahariar struck two fours in the previous over and faced Streak. When he pushed a Streak delivery to point, Ashraful raced into the other end for a single, but Al-Sahariar remained unmoved. Streak himself took the bails off before Ashrfaul reached his crease.

Tushar struck his first boundary through mid-wicket off Friend and a thunderous applaud was waiting for him. He tried to play the same drive shot off Friend’s third ball, which he missed and was bowled. Bangladesh lost their second wicket at 27.

The danger man Habibul Bashar, a cool customer when it comes to face the Zimbabweans, joined Al-Sahariar.

Friend struck again in his next over and this time the victim was Al-Sahariar. The hard-hitter was bitten out side the off stump for a couple of times and edged a catch to the keeper in the third ball. Sahariar made 13 and Friend got his second wicket. Bangladesh was reeling at 31 for 3.

Bashar was the only hope for the hosts at that moment. Sanwar Hossain has the reputation to bat with patience. Bashar hammered a four guiding the ball through deep point off Brent in the 15th over and took the score to 50/3.

BANGLADESH TEAM ON BATTING

The first ODI of the Coca-Cola series is going to be staged at the M A Aziz stadium in Chittagong today between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Stewart Carlisle has won the toss and sent his opponents to bat first.

It’s a slightly foggy morning with light moisture on the track. The pitch is so far known – batting friendly. There are some changes from both sides. Khaled Masud, the new captain, is leading the hosts. They have dropped Akram Khan, Aminul Islam and former skipper Naimur Rahman for the ODI series. Sanwar Hossain, Tushar Imran and Mohammed Rafique are included instead of them.

Mohammed Rafique, the left arm offie is playing instead of Enamul Haque, who played the Tests. All rounder Khaled Mahmood is on the field again after he was dropped for the second Test. Javed Omar, the regular opener, is not playing today. Mohammed Ashraful opens with Al-Sahariar for this match.

For Zimbabwe they only included the ODI specialist Sean Earvin, who played a brilliant knock in the practice match. Heath Streak is back in the squad again.