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Monday, November 4, 2013
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
15 Fatullah fans out in full force
Nasir stars with all-round performance n Mazhar Uddin
A jubilant Bangladesh side are all smiles after beating New Zealand yesterday to complete an historic 3-0 series win at the Khan Shaheb Osman Alie Stadium in Fatullah
Bangladesh sweep series in emphatic style
MUMIT M
Mills praises Bangladesh’s youngsters n Mazhar Uddin New Zealand skipper Kyle Mills said Bangladesh played exceptional cricket to clinch the series yesterday at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali stadium. “We are all very disappointed with the outcome of, not just today’s match but the whole series. To go down 3-0 is extremely disappointing. It wasn’t our plan when we came out here but we have to hand it to the Bangladesh side, they played exceptional cricket today,” said Mills. The Kiwi captain was satisfied with his side’s first innings total of 307 and signaled out Bangladesh’s opening partnership as turning the match around. “I thought we had a total we could defend. The opening batters for Bangladesh played exceptionally well and took the game away from us. Our spinners did a good job to bring it back for us somewhat, but the start they got created huge momentum for them to chase the total down,” he said. While disappointed with the result, the 34-year old went on to praise the way Bangladesh had developed over the last ten years and expressed the opinion that they had been playing very well for some time now. “We have had success in the past in the subcontinent, it just so happens that in our last
Tigers completed their second‘Banglawash’ over the Black Caps n Minhaz Uddin Khan In only his second ODI Shamsur R a h m a n Shuvo led the Tigers from the front with a mesmerising 96 as the others supported him well to successfully chase 308 runs and hand New Zealand another ‘Banglawash’ at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium yesterday. Bangladesh won the third and final ODI by four wickets to clinch the three-match series 3-0. The home side came in the game having the series already secured and another ‘Banglawash’ – a term that was born three years back when the Tigers defeated the same opponents 4-0 – was a distant hope at half-way through as Bangladesh, who were playing without Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, two names that always contribute in big wins, were looking at a mammoth target.
It was the sheer determination and dedication that allowed Bangladesh land the win and register their second highest successful chase after the 313 runs against Zimbabwe in 2009. The win also extended Bangladesh’s winning streak to seven matches against New Zealand in over five years. Bangladesh needed a good start and it was effectively provided by the new pair of Shamsur and Ziaur Rahman as the duo put on 61 runs in just under eight overs to set the momentum. Both men looked confident as they hammered some lusty blows all over the park. Zia (22 off 20) struck two fours and equal sixes before he skied one at point. However, right-handed Shamsur maintained his rhythm with Mominul Haque (32) and added another 65 from 66 balls. Mominul’s soft dismissal, caught and bowled by Anton Devcich, was followed by Mushfiqur Rahim (two) out to a brilliant onehanded catch by Ross Taylor at short square-leg.
‘Press-Box’ n Tribune Report Hosting the third and the final ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand yesterday was the acid test for Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium (KSOAS) in regards of preparation for hosting matches of the ICC World Twenty20 2014. Though the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave the venue a green signal in its last meeting for hosting the event, many on-duty personals at the venue had to face troubles for no proper arrangements. Getting no other facilities except for the seats, the working journalists held a 30-minute long sitting strike outside the press box at KSOAS. The journalists complained that the air-conditioners were not working and there was no one to look after the issue. Several requests were made to responsible personals to arrange fans to bare the heat in the air-locked press box, but hardly any initiative was taken. They also complained of the unavailability of other necessary things, but no one was there to take care of the situation. With no other option the journalists took stance in front of the press box
and denied from covering the series at a point. The ICC venue inspectors had made several visits to KSOAS. Though it was given the green signal for hosting the World Twenty20, Jalal Younus, director and chairman of the Media and Communications of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confessed the venue to have few things not in place. The BCB member requested to bear with the situation and cover the series for the day. “We were informed that the air-conditioners were not working properly. The same is with many other boxes in the stadium. The venue didn’t have any international cricket for years for which these issues are coming up. And to be honest the issues are revealing because we are having a game here today (yesterday),” said Jalal to the media yesterday. The third ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand is the first international game at KSOAS since 2006. It was also informed that the players’ dressing room also had issues. The BCB member assured that all the utilities will be in place at any venue in the future tours. l
However, Shamsur stood tall from the other end as he went past his fifty and neared the magical three figures with a showcase of some brilliant strokeplay. Naeem Islam accompanied him accordingly as they recovered all bases in their 75-run stand which was broken with the dismissal of Shamsur. A thick-edge to the keeper stopped Shamsur’s valiant 107-ball innings just four runs away from his maiden hundred. Meanwhile, Naeem once again contributed a valuable 63 as the Tigers were scoring along the asking rate and later it was up to Nasir Hossain, after a quite series so far, who returned to what he does best – finish the game. Nasir’s 44 from 38 balls along with along with Sohag Gazi’s 11 not out saw the home side cruise to victory with four balls to spare. Earlier, New Zealand rode on Taylor’s unbeaten 107 to post 305 for 5. Taylor took full advantage of the life he received, a drop catch on 12 by Ru-
It was a case of “cometh the hour, cometh the man” as Nasir Hossain, who had failed to make a significant contribution in the previous two matches, put the finishing touch on Bangladesh’s mammoth chase and guided the Tigers to a 3-0 series win over New Zealand at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium yesterday. Nasir, who had old only scored 1 and 3 in the previous two games of the series, came to the wicket with the score at 204/4 from 34.1 overs and over a 100 runs still needed. He proceeded to bat both sensibly and fluently in partnership with Naeem Islam and the pair put on fifty runs in quick time before Naeem was run out for 63. Undaunted, Nasir continued on with Mahmudullah at the other end. Keeping the required rate to manageable levels, the 21-year old struck five fours and a six as he finished 44 not out to take Bangladesh to their target of 308 in the last over of the innings. Nasir had already contributed with the ball earlier in the day. With the New Zealand batsmen in full flow, Nasir came on to bowl his part-timer off-breaks and conceded just 33 runs in 10 overs at an economy rate of 3.33, where the next best in the innings was Mahmudullah’s 5.14 an over. l
bel Hossain off his own bowling in the 23rd over, as he clobbered nine boundaries and three sixes to take his team to a strong position. Anton Devcich and Tom Latham added 66 runs to give the visitors a good start. However, Bangladesh vicecaptain Mahmudullah dismissed Devich on 46 to get the Tigers back in the game. Within a span of three overs the Tigers got the second breakthrough as a hurried slog from Grant Elliot (3) off Abdur Razzak resulted in a top edge to Gazi at mid-on. Wicketkeeper-batsman Latham became the only victim of Rubel in the game after he was caught behind on 43 to turn the score to 101 for 3 in 21 overs. Taylor and Colin Munro repaired the damage and established 130 runs for the fourth wicket to get them going. Murno was impressive and though he was unlucky not to make a hundred, as he returned for 85, Taylor made sure of registering his eighth ODI century.l
two series in Bangladesh, we have gone down. I wouldn’t take the gloss off the Bangladesh team, they played exceptional cricket. They have really developed over the last ten years. We tried to front up today but just came short, which is disappointing,” he said. Comparing this whitewash loss to the last one in 2010, Mills said, “This one’s pretty fresh and pretty raw. I got over the last one, but it’s still very disappointing. The last series we came in with expectations of winning the series quite comfortably. I guess the scars from that series set us up for this series. We were quite wary of the Bangladesh side. They’ve got some very good players in these conditions, and you have to admire that.” The stand-in captain praised Bangladesh’s youngsters, especially Momniul Haque, who was named man-of-the-series in the Tests. “They’ve really stood up. In the Test matches too he (Mominul) did well, and in this series he played a hand in every game. He is a player who is in form at the moment and someone who has got a bit of class about him. I don’t want to point out just one person from Bangladesh because in the last game, all the wickets and runs were shared around. They really have played as a team in these last few games and they have played some really good cricket.” l
Mushfiq credits mental strength n M i n h az Ud d i n Kh an Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim attributed his side’s 3-0 series win over New Zealand to the hard work that the team has done over the past four months and a newly found mental strength. “We (Bangladesh team) had a discussion before the series where we determined our aim. Before it was like we had one or two performers in the side but now we have the ability. We tried to make ourselves understand that if we try and work hard, anything is achievable. Thankfully everyone got this in their mind. There was a time when one person would score a hundred or take five wickets but the team would lose, but now we are getting wins,” Mushfiqur told the media at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium yesterday. With the team stepping up, Mushfiq has become one of the most successful captains in the country’s history. Under his leadership, Bangladesh has won 11 ODIs in two years and made noticeable improvements in Test cricket. Just six months ago, Mushfiq announced he was stepping down from the captaincy after
is,” he said. Asked which series win was more special – the current one or the 4-0 win in 2010, the 25-year old said, “The two wins are different. If you are asking for my personal opinion, I will keep this series win ahead of 2010. “Both the teams were different in 2010 and today we didn’t have two of
what he felt was a disappointing team performance in Zimbabwe. Reflecting on that time, the wicket-keeper said, “I have said it before many times, the decision was triggered by emotion. I don’t want anything special from the team. All I will love to see is Bangladesh doing well consistently, doesn’t matter who the captain
Bangladesh v New Zealand, Three Match ODI series 2013 Most runs Player
Mat Inns NO Runs HS 84
Ave
SR
54.33
100 50
4s
6s
Naeem Islam (Ban)
3
3
0
163
78.36
0
2
18
1
Ross Taylor (NZ)
3
3
1
160 107* 80.00 84.65
1
0
13
4
Mushfiqur Rahim (Ban)
3
3
0
123
90
41.00
94.61
0
1
9
4
Shamsur Rahman (Ban)
2
2
0
121
96
60.50
75.15
0
1
7
6
Grant Elliott (NZ)
3
3
0
88
71
29.33
77.19
0
1
6
2
Most Wickets Player
Mat Overs Mdns Runs Wkts BBI
JDS Neesham (NZ)
2
19.0
Rubel Hossain (Ban)
3
20.5
Corey J Anderson (NZ)
3
27.5
0
Econ SR
4
5
4/42 11.87 5.00 14.2
2
0
7
6/26 15.85 5.32 17.8
0
1
7
4/40 20.28 5.10 23.8
1
0
95
8
1
111
2
142
Ave
Sohag Gazi (Ban)
3
26.0
0
137
5
3/34 27.40 5.26 31.2
0
0
TG Southee (NZ)
2
20.0
4
79
3
3/34 26.33 3.95 40.0 0
0
our key members (Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal). I think this series is bigger than 2010.” It was opening batsman Shamsur Rahman’s blazing knock set the platform for Bangladesh’s successful run chase. The right-handed batsman was named man-of-the-match for his 107-ball 96, but was disappointed at missing his first ODI hundred. Asked if nerves had got to him, Shamsur replied, “I think this was the first time in my life that I was not nervous in the 90s. There could have been dot balls if I had thought too much about it or it might have not. I thought first of the team and it was my bad luck that I couldn’t reach the hundred.” With just two ODIs behind him, Shamsur epitomized the mental strength that Mushfiq had referred to. Commenting on the mental approach to chasing such a large target, the 25-year old newcomer said, “We (the openers) tried to play each delivery on merit. Any bad balls, we tried to treat it right. I don’t think chasing 307 is a challenge for Bangladesh now. The wickets was batting friendly and we believed partnerships would get us win in the game,” he said.l