1st Test: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Dhaka, 8-12 Nov 2001 CricInfo Live Report

1st Test: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe at Dhaka, 8-12 Nov 2001
Shahryar Khan

Bangladesh 2nd innings: Before Tea, End of Day 3,
Zimbabwe 1st innings: Before Lunch,
Live Reports from previous days

BANGLADESH HAD 199 RUNS IN FRONT TO AVOID INNINGS DEFEAT

Javed steered Murphy to third man for a spectacular boundary, his first one and with that Bangladesh completed fifty runs. This partnership added 47 runs in the second wicket.

In the following over Bashar played Friend across the bat to fine leg to achieve two more runs. In the next over he lifted Murphy to deep midwicket for another four.

Habibul Bashar moved to 33 by flicking Murphy towards deep cover to take three and the score rushed to 66 for 1. Murphy set an attacking fielding position, desperately trying to get the break through. These batsmen were slowly adjusting themselves to the wicket and dealing each ball to its merit.

Habibul took the advantage of a close fielding and smashed Murphy in the following over to deep midwicket for his sixth four. One ball later he guided the ball between slip and wicket keeper to the fence once again. Two successive boundaries took him to 42, eight short of his fifth Test fifty.

Bashar banged his seventh ball off Marillier; it was a short ball that pitched on the middle turning to the leg and Bashar swept it to the fence.

Murphy received some punishment from Javed Omar at the other end when the tardy batsman smacked two consecutive boundaries to take the score to 87. The crowd in BNS enjoyed the overs giving a round of applause.

Bashar scored his fifty by placing Murphy to deep square leg, his fifth Test half-century that included 7 fours during his 156-minute stay in the crease.

Javed, perhaps inspired by his partner’s success, drove Marillier in the following over down to long on for another boundary that carried the tally to 98.

Habibul continued his onslaught and slammed another two boundaries off Murphy, who got some severe treatment from this batsman from the beginning.

Marillier dispatched Javed Omar when the little batsman endeavored an ambitious shot that offered a catch to Olonga at long off. He was 35 at that time and second down for Bangladesh at 108.

At last Friend got Bashar at Murphy’s hands when the batsman played a half-hearted shot that went straight to the fielder. He made 65 featuring 10 boundaries.

At the end of the day Bangladesh were 125 for the loss of 3 wickets.

BASHAR AND JAVED OMAR IS PLAYING SENSIBLE CRICKET

Soon after the lunch break Mashrafe captured his fourth wicket, when the tourist skipper gave a catch that flew to Habibul Bashar at second slip. With that out Zimbabwe ended their first innings with a big 431, taking a 324-run lead.

Mashrafe was the most successful bowler for his country to grab 4 for 106. Enamul secured 3 for 74 and Manjurul Islam 2 giving away the same run.

Javed Omar let the first Streak delivery go past his stumps to the keeper and that was how hosts started their second innings. They would have to go a long way to save the match and it was an ordeal.

Al-Sahariar flicked Friend to deep fine leg to open his account and for his country too. He hit a four by placing Streak in the third over down to fine leg to clear the rope. Four welcome runs for Bangladesh. Javed was evading the new ball giving strikes to Al-Sahariar to face it most of the time.

Friend gave the first blow when the fourth ball of his second over rose sharply to hit Al-Sahariar’s gloves and flew to Grant Flower at point and he didn’t miss it. Al-Sahariar returned with 5 and Bangladesh lost their first wicket at 6.

Friend was pitching the ball real fast and was gathering bounce from the surface; Streak, on the other hand, was persistent with his steady line and length scarcely allowing the batsman to move.

Javed angled away an over pitched delivery from Streak to deep square leg and picked up three runs. Bangladesh 18 for 1 after 9 overs.

On the 13th over Javed Omar almost got his partner run out when he pushed the ball to point and raced to the other end. If the throw hit the stumps, Bashar could have been in the pavilion by that time. Bangladeshi batsmen should not go for such risks right then.

Henry Olonga was trying to frighten Bashar delivering short pitcher on several occasions. Bashar took the challenge on his third over to whack the bowl that went fast to the deep point fence for four. The score moved to 31. Bashar likes to go for pull shots, despite the fact that it cost his wicket for a good number of times.

He hit another four off the same bowler in his next over, the shot that resembled the first one. Bashar went for his third four off Olonga, a grassy straight drive through long on to the ropes, which takes the batsman to 21. Olonga hit back with a lethal bouncer in his next delivery to show his disappointment and the batsman ducked down to move away from its line. Good fight between two ace players!

At Tea Bangladesh managed 47 runs for the loss of Al-Sahariar. Bashar batting 21 and Javed 13.

FRIEND UNLUCKY NOT TO GET HIS MAIDEN TEST CENTURY

Heath Streak and Travis Friend added 19 more runs to their score before Mashrafe broke the partnership. Heath, who managed his half-century last evening, hit a spectacular drive on to his front foot to the third man to take his tally to 65. A couple of balls later he attempted to play an out swinger and only got an edge to Khaled Masud who comfortably held the catch.

By this time, Travis reached his fifty, a precious one, which included seven shots to the rope. Zimbabwe has good supportive batsmen at the tail after their renowned top-order. Streak, Friend, Murphy – they all looked quite dexterous with the bat too. Their vital contribution was placing the squad to a secured position as they were nearing four hundred – a total that could shake the opponent’s confidence in such a track.

Is their any way for Bangladesh to shun the defeat? The question was floating all around. However, Friend got a life as Mahmood dropped him at second slip off Mashrafe. He was getting dangerous after that and hit consecutive boundaries to Mahmood only to show the gratitude. He was batting with 67 with Murphy who managed 4. Zimbabwe board showed 389 for 8.

It is very unfortunate for Bangladesh to have another downcast sky today like day-1. Yesterday was sunny and the surface was getting easier to bat on, as it was well established by the Zimbabweans.

Murphy struck Enamul for a square leg boundary soon after Zimbabwe reached 400. He welcomed the Bangladeshi skipper with a four that raced through deep extra cover when Naimur brought himself on at the other end.

Travis Friend’s innings ended when he played Enamul Haque on the back foot and missed the line, the ball took his bails off. He is the third unlucky batsman among the Zimbabweans who failed to spot the century, as he was 81 when he was on his stride to pavilion. He struck nine fours all the way through his valiant knock. Zimbabwe had run up a massive total of 418 for 9.

Olonga opened his account on Naimur’s fourth delivery by gently pushing the ball to cover. He was the only Zimbabwean looked suspect against spin.

Murphy slammed another four off Enamul Haque through cover and trying to keep the strike as much as possible.

Naimur gave the ball to his speed man Mashrafe to dispatch Olonga before long but the African survived that over. At lunch Zimbabwe were 428 for 9 with Murphy batting at 24 and Olonga 1.