2nd ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Dhaka, 25 Nov 2001 CricInfo Live Report

2nd ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Dhaka, 25 Nov 2001
Shahryar Khan

Pre-game: Before start,
Zimbabwe innings: Before Drinks, Before 2nd Drinks, At Lunch,
Bangladesh innings: Before Drinks, Before 2nd Drinks,

BASHAR AND SANWAR COMING OUT OF EARLY DAMAGE

Sanwar Hossain and Habibul Bashar went for quick singles and occasional twos. After twenty overs Bangladesh reached three-figure landmark. Once again Bashar looked confident enough to run a big innings; all he needed was good support from the other end.

Habibul Bashar brushed Nkala back past the wicket keeper for a four, which took the score to 112. The next ball hit his pad only to go past the boundary rope. Both batsmen were looking sensible in their approach, hardly going for any sort of risky venture. They were pushing the ball through spaces to keep the score board moving.

Sanwar, after a wobbling start, started finding the gaps too. Some brilliant fielding from the Zimbabweans saved at least 15 runs in contrast to Bangladesh’s sloppy fieldwork. The hosts were 141 for 3 after 28. The partnership added 65 runs in the fourth wicket stand.

Habibul Bashar reached his fourth ODI fifty in style flicking Marillier to third-man rope. His faced 74 balls to notch up the total that had five exclusive boundaries with it. Sanwar managed his first boundary angling Marillier away through deep backward square leg. The partnership added 97 runs in this wicket. The board showed Bangladesh 173 for 3 after the completion of over 35.

TWO DISAPPOINTING FINISH AFTER A FLYING START

Javed Omar Belim took the first run for Bangladesh pushing Streak to cover. It was a huge target they were facing, 305 to win this match. Umpire S R Chinu had reduced 5 runs from the Zimbabwean total to 304.

Javed hit the first boundary flicking Friend to third-man rope and Bangladesh 10 for no loss. He sent the last ball to the deep cover fence again. Friend was a bit erratic in his second over giving away several wide deliveries.

Belim went for his third four off Heath Streak; on the other hand, reputed hard hitter spent some quiet moments on the crease perhaps looking for a big innings to play. Belim hit another four off Streak, this time guiding through the point. Bangladesh 29 for no loss after five overs.

Garry Brent was brought on replacing Friend only to be welcomed by a slashing four through square leg region that came off Al-Sahariar’s bat. Five greeting boundaries for Bangladesh and a flying start too! In the third ball Sahariar sent Brent once again to the ropes through deep-square leg with thunderous cheers to boost him up.

Al-Sahariar drove back past Streak to the boundary rope to secure his 3rd fiery shot. Bangladesh 44 without any damage.

An unfortunate run out sent Al-Sahariar home when Javed asked him to take an improbable single. He made 15 that included three boundaries in it. First wicket fell at 46 and Mohammed Ashraful joined Javed Omar.

Heath Streak removed Javed Belim when the batsman edged a rising delivery to Andy Flower. He made 27 with five boundaries in it. All on a sudden Bangladesh lost the momentum; their 50 came in the 9th over as Bashar bashed Streak through mid-wicket.

Ashraful, the diminutive whiz kid, hit a couple of fours from the next few overs. Bashar bashed again pulling an expensive Friend through deep mid-wicket fence.

Soon the kid Ashraful was clean bowled off Travis Friend for 14 leaving Bangladesh at 76 for 3 at drinks.

ZIMBABWE PILED UP GIGANTIC TOTAL

Ebrahim struck Ashraful through backward point to hit his 11th boundary and reached 98 and in the following over he got his hundred pushing Bashar to long fielder. He played 112 balls throughout his marvelous knock.

Wishart hammered his first six off Bashar hitting the bowler over long on. He struck Ashraful in the following over deep mid-wicket to get his second massive over boundary. He well timed Rafique through point to get one more boundary that took his tally to 45.

His played exactly 49 balls to reach his stormy fifty. Next the targeted Rafique to whack his 3rd six as the ball flew over long off fence. Zimbabwe are now 262 for 3 after 46 overs. Craig’s severe onslaught was well appreciated by the crowd too. At last Mashrafe dismissed the burly Zimbabwean sending a ball through his bat to shutter his stumps. He made 68 off 60 balls and to do that he stayed only 70 minutes.

Dion Ebrahim’s long innings (121) came to an end as he failed to reach his crease while attempting a quick single before Al-Sahariar’s throw broke the stumps. He slashed 11 boundaries. Mashrafe got his second wicket getting Marillier clean bowled. Zimbabwe lost their 6th wicket at 287.

Heath Streak blasted Rafique in the final over, which conceded 22 runs. Streak slammed two sixes – one over long on and the other on top of long off. Zimbabwe made 309 for 6 after 50 overs.

EBRAHIM ON STYLE

Ebrahim saw his first success in the tour reaching his fifty that took 56 balls during his 81-minute stay. Carlisle, on the other end was batting at 36. Zimbabwe 119 for 1 after 21 overs. Zimbabweans were displaying their superb dexterity in the running between the wickets turning ones into twos and twos into threes.

Habibul Bashar, the right-arm occasional off breaker was brought on for the first time to stop the flow oh runs. He gave three runs in his over to keep the batsmen quiet and was almost successful. The following over brought the doom of Carlisle when the skipper became run out. Carlisle, the non-striker rushed to the other end when Ebrahim remained indifferent to his call. Sanwar raced in to break his stumps before the batsman touched the popping crease. The captain contributed with 44 when the total showed 139 for 3.

Andy Flower had to undergo his second unsuccessful day as Khaled Mahmud removed him at the hands of Al-Sahariar at gully. The veteran Zimbabwean tried to go for shot, but the ball took the top-edge of his bat to Al-Sahariar. Andy made 10 and struck two fours during his short-time stay. Zimbabwe were three men down to make 145.

Danger man Craig Wishart and Ebrahim scored some quick runs as they found gaps without difficulty. Ebrahim was batting at 89 as the board showed 187 for 3 as Zimbabwean total.

GOOD START BY ZIMBABWE

Grant Flower and Dion Ebrahim came on to the crease as Zimbabwe won the toss and elected batting first in a wicket that will obviously speak for the batsman. Bangladesh took three regular fast medium bowlers today dropping Tushar Imran, Fahim Muntasir and Mohammed Sharif.

The first five overs produced 23 runs for the tourists. Manjurul Islam brought the initial success as he clean bowled Grant Flower, the batsman not in good form in this tour. Grant departed for 22 before hammering three boundaries in his innings. First wicket fell at 25.

Carlisle and Ebrahim drove several boundaries all around the stumps to take Zimbabwe to 50 in the 10th over. Runs were coming easily as the batsmen found gaps quite often. Mohammed Rafique is the only spinner in the team. The rest of the bowlers are smeamers including Khaled Mahmud, who is a recognized all rounder.

Manjurul was bowling short on the leg stump with a single fielder standing at mid-wicket. He got some good punishment from Ebrahim, as the right-hander played over the mid-wicket region to get a couple of fours. Carlisle slammed Hasibul for three boundaries in the 13th over; it was a costly comeback for Hasibul as he had conceded 18 runs from his last two overs.

Ebrahim continued his run feast flicking Rafique through third man for his 7th boundary. Before drinks Zimbabwe were 91 for 1 after 16 overs.

ZIMBABWE DECIDES TO BAT

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first in the second ODI against Bangladesh at BNS today. The track is utterly batting-friendly.

It is a sunny afternoon with no clouds around anywhere. The early moisture is dried out. There are three changes in the Bangladesh squad. Hasibul Hussain, Javed Omar and Manjural Islam are playing.

As for Zimbabwe they opted for Mliloki Nkala, the fast medium bowler only.

Ebrahim and Grant Flower are to face Mashrafe and Hasibul.