3rd ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Dhaka, 26 Nov 2001 CricInfo Live Report

3rd ODI: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Dhaka, 26 Nov 2001
Shahryar Khan

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

EBRAHIM AND CARLISLE APPROACHING SLOWLY

Grant Flower came out off his shell to hit the opening six in the match after getting a life at deep mid-wicket. He greeted Enamul Haque taking 16 runs off his second over slamming two boundaries more. The score reached 87 after 15 overs. He whacked another four off the same bowler in his following over to take the tally to 95.

Ebrahim got his fifty off 71 balls during his 90-minute stay. He gave Mahmud a good punishment hitting three fours in his over – one through long-ff, the second through deep point and whacked the third to the mid-wicket fence.

Enamul removed Grant Flower at last. The danger man could not escape this time as Sanwar at mid-wicket grabbed the catch happily. Zimbabwe lost their opening wicket at 107.

Skipper Carlisle, who had two good days in the previous one-days, joined Ebrahim. Both Mahmud and Enamul were getting quite a bit of punishment from the batsmen at crease. Carlisle drove Mahmud for successive boundaries and Ebrahim was batting with 62, looking for his second hundred.

Only Fahim Muntasir drew admiration for his tight spell. He was the only bowler the Zimbabweans played with reverence. At drinks Zimbabwe managed 158 for 1 having Ebrahim batting on 68 and Carlisle 33.

PATIENT START FROM ZIMBABWEANS

Grant Flower and Dion Ebrahim started quietly against Mashrafe and Sharif. The target was easily achievable as Zimbabweans have a long and effective batting line up.

Ebrahim slashed Sharif to the deep extra cover fence to push their total to 16 in the 4th over. Sharif and Mashrafe were trying to create pressure on the openers pitching ball at tight length keeping a steady line side by side. The recognized hard-hitter Grant Flower was holding himself away from taking any sort of risky venture only to allow his partner take strike and score runs rather quickly.

Ebrahim hammered his 4th boundary that past the bower rapidly to the fence. After over 10, Zimbabwe piled up 46 runs without damage. Flower was bating at 10 and Ebrahim 29. He continued his run feast by slashing a couple of boundaries more. The duo was placing the ball at different directions to propel the scoreboard.

At drinks Zimbabwe gathered 68 for no loss.

HORRIBLE PERFORMANCE AFTER A SOLID START

Sanwar departed soon after the drinks lifting Streak’s second delivery at the hands of Carlisle. Khaled Masud followed him a little after edging a catch to wicket keeper Streak in the last ball off the same over. The hosts were reeling at 157 for 6. Enamul Haque joined Khaled Mahmud, the fastest half-centurion for his country that he made yesterday, to build some partnership to take the team to a respectable position.

Mahmud drove the last ball off Streak obviously trying to lift over extra cover, but Carlisle took a spectacular catch running away from deep extra cover to let Bangladesh struggling at 176 for 7. Streak got his thirds wicket. Fahim Muntasir’s three-ball innings saw its end when Grant Flower comfortably took a return catch off his own bowling. Bangladesh lost their 8th wicket at 176.

Enamul was to go next while trying to take a cheeky single became run out. Bangladesh lost their ninth wicket at 186. Mashrafe and Sharif took some quick runs to propel their team to two hundred. Mashrafe slammed Marillier for a welcome boundary that saw Bangladesh reached 200 for 9.

The last wicket partnership summed up 29 runs to take Bangladesh to 215 all out after 48.1 overs.

AL-SAHARIAR GOT HIS FIFTY

Ervine saw his fifth ball rushed back past him to the boundary rope as Al-Sahariar hit the ball hard imparting tremendous power on it. Today the typical scenario was changed a bit. Al-Sahariar, a reputed hard-hitter was looking rather calm where slow coach Belim emerged as an attacking batsman already scored 42 with 6 dashing shot in it.

Al-Sahariar whacked another four off Ervine, his fifth one in the innings, lifting the ball high over long-on that dropped little short of the rope. He was 28. Both batsmen had some problems in running-between-the-wicket, but they stayed alive due to a couple of Zimbabwean misfielding. Al-Sahariar had to jump in to his crease for a couple of occasions to get rid of run-out chances.

Javed needed a single to get his 4th half-century in ODI and he got his cutting Ervine to backward point. A good knock from him that embraced 6 boundaries and his mate on the other hand made 36. The partnership added hundred runs when Belim square cut the first ball off Paul Strang and took three runs.

The first wicket fell off the same over as Paul Strang deceived Belim and bowled him cleanly. The short batsman played 77 balls to make his 54. Bangladesh 103 for 1.

Little Ashraful and Al-Sahariar made some quick runs pushing the ball lightly through gaps. The diminutive wonder-boy slashed two clever boundaries off Marillier and Strang to gain the momentum. Al-Sahariar was nine short of his second ODI fifty at that time. He found it easy to cope with Ashraful while they were going for runs. He reached 47 steering Paul Strang to deep point boundary. Runs were coming with ease.

Marillier clean bowled an impatient Ashraful when he tried to play the leggie across the bat and missed it. Bangladesh lost the second wicket at 132. Al-Sahariar’s 50 came as he cut Marillier to deep fine leg for a single. He faced 83 balls to do that.

Marillier bowled an inform Habibul Bashar for 5 only to dismiss the 3rd Bangladeshi wicket. The successful batsman attempted to play Marillier down the wicket only to miss the line of the ball that went into his stumps sharply.

Grant Flower dispatched Al-Sahariar who offered a high catch, which Paul Strang took comfortably. He made 59 and played 97 balls during his 139-minute stay. At drinks Bangladesh were 156 for 4.

GOOD START BY BANGLADESH

Al-Sahariar, the unfortunate man of yesterday, slashed the first boundary for his country off formidable Travis Friend. The way he started yesterday was superb but his promising innings had a tragic conclusion, as he was run-out so miserably.

His partner Javed Belim got the second four of the day just pushing Streak hard through long-off region. He sent the fourth ball through third-man to get another. Bangladesh 18 without loss after 5.

Friend and Streak are two most dangerous bowlers, who must be dealt carefully, especially in the first ten overs. They have pace, bounce and lateral movement. Al-Sahariar hit his second four off Friend as the ball went past the long-off fast.

Javed got a lucky survival in the 10th over off Friend when the nicked a ball that fell short of Wishart standing at first slip. The ball went past the fielder to the rope and a blessed boundary for Bangladesh! Belim struck once again hammering Friend through cover and point to find another four. After 12 overs Bangladesh gathered 44 for none.

Al-Sahariar drove a slower delivery off Olonga that raced straight to fence and with that Bangladesh reached fifty. Belim struck Ervine, the change bowler, through cover for his 5th boundary. Belim steered Olonga in the following over through deep gully to obtain his sixth four. He was batting 37 and Al-Sahariar 19. Bangladesh were 67 without loss at drinks.

BANGLADESH WINS THE TOSS AND ELECTS TO BAT

It’s a bright sunny after noon at BNS. Bangladesh is taking on Zimbabwe for 3rd and final match of the Coca-Cola ODI series. Toss won by Bangladesh and they elected to bat first in the batting-friendly track at BNS. Left-arm orthodox spinner Enamul Haque has been included replacing Mohammed Rafique, who conceded 82 runs yesterday.

Mohammad Sharif is back in the squad again and Hasibul is dropped. Left-arm seam bowler Manjurul is not playing today. Fahim Muntasir, the offie who played the 1st ODI replaces him.

Zimbabwe went for a couple of changes – Paul Strang and Henry Olonga are playing.