Zimbabwe
clinch a cliff hanger and win the Nissan ODI series
A report on the final
ODI by Aranya Syed from Dhaka
It was all set for an intriguing finale to what has been one of the
close-fought ODI series that both Bangladesh and Zimbabwe were involved in,
incent years. One must say, that both the ODI's that were played in Harare
(the Bulawayo ODI's were rained off without a ball being bowled) were absolute
nail-biters. Bangladesh overcame the first one (effectively, the 3rd
ODI), WHICH WAS THEIR FIRST VICTORY IN 5 LONG YEARS SINCE THEIR HEROICS
AGAINST Pakistan in the World Cup1999, while Zimbabwe just managed to
snatch the second one (4thODI) from the Tigers. In both occasions though, the
team that batted first won the match (although it could have gone anyway)
THE ALL-IMPORTANT TOSS:
As both the ODI's in the Nissan Series was won
by the team batting first, the toss was a crucial one. Habibul Bashar of
Bangladesh won the first toss of his career, and he had no hesitation in
batting first. There were couple of changes from the home team from the 4th
ODI, as Andy Blignaut had to sit out the winner-take-all Final due to a
knee-injury and Mark Vermulen was not considered for this crucial encounter.
Douglas Hondo and Stuart Matsikenyeri were the replacements respectively.
Bangladesh also made one change from their previous game, as Manjarul Islam
Rana got his first game of the series on for the most successful Bangladesh
bowler in the last couple of years or so, Mohammed Rafique. Rafique was, in
fact, sent back to Bangladesh this morning from Zimbabwe, due to what the
Manager of the Tigers referred to as “gross indiscipline”
THE
FIRST INNINGS:
Hannan Sarkar was opening the batting alongside make-shift opening batsman
Manjarul Rana. The main reason behind this change would be the left-right
combination, and also the fact that Alok Kapali was struggling at the opening
slot. The think-tank deserves a pat on the back for making this
“innovative” change, as Manjarul does not even open the batting for his
state side of Victoria, in the domestic competitions. Whatever the reasons for
the change are, it seemed to work quite effectively. Bangladesh were off to a
flyer, as the two opening duo posted a 100-run partnership, which is a rare
case for the Tigers, as it is always the middle-order who bails them out of
difficulties. Both Hannan and Manjarul were also helped by some dropped
catches and mis-fieldings from the Zimbabweans, who looked quite ordinary in
the field as the African nation does set up high standards in the field, if
not with the timber or with the wood.Hannan(59 off 99) completed a much-needed
half-century, from this extremely talented youngster, but he soon gave it away
trying to play a sweep shot of the Zimbabwean left-arm spinner Ray Price.
Bangladesh were flying high at the score of 105, when the first wicket fell.
Mohammed Ashraful was sent up the order, because of his good batting
performance in both forms of the game in this particular series, but he didn't
trouble the scorers at all, as he was dismissed for a duck. Then a 48-run
partnership between Manjarul & Rajin Saleh, brought the Bangladeshis back
into the game-and they were looking to post a huge total, as they still had
their bulk of the wickets in-tact. Manjarul got out for a very well-crafted
half-century (his first in his very short ODI career), and he must be
appreciated for his batting because he “agreed” to open the batting in
overhead Harare conditions, with the likes of Streak and Hondo steaming in. He
didn't disappoint his captain and coach one bit, but there were a few who did,
and very much so. After looking pretty at 3/153, Bangladesh crashed to 183
all-out in the 49th over, with not even a single batsman getting
into the 2-figure mark, other than the two openers and Rajin(21 off 32).The
opener`s heroics was spoilt by the middle-order batters who played some very
average shots to get out. The spin-duo of Grant Flower(3/36) and Price(2/38)
brought the Zimbabweans back into the game, sharing 5 wickets between them.
Heath Streak(2/17)was again in business, picking up 2 wickets.
THE
REPLY
Grant Flower and Barney Rogers came out to bat, in order to chase a
relatively low total of 183,compiled by the Bangladeshis. Tapash Baisya shared
the new ball with all-rounder Mushfiqur Rahman, which was a surprising move
from Bashar, because he had Tareq Aziz Khan, the hero of the 3rd
ODI for Bangladesh, up at his sleeves. But his decision to open the bowling
with Mushfiqur would probably be because he did not have too many runs to play
with, and thus opted for the economical-Mushfiqur, rather than the expensive,
yet, wicket-taking Tareq. Zimbabwe were off to a flyer, just like their
Bangladeshi counterparts, and Flower seemed to be back in business, after a
very ordinary series with the bat. Zimbabwe were cruising at the total of 112
runs for no wicket in the 24th over. The first wicket to fall was
that of the experienced Flower(59 off 87) after he completed a half-century,
and he was dismissed, as a result of a brilliant catch by substitute fielder
Al-Shahriar off the bowling of former Bangladesh Captain Khaled Mahmud. On TV,
Athar Ali Khan, the celebrated Bangladeshi commentator, commented that “this
might be the opening of the floodgates” after the dismissal of Flower. Well,
if he Athar meant that this would be a middle-order batting collapse, a-la
Bangladesh, it certainly was one. Mahmud just ripped through the Zimbabwe
middle-order, with the help of fellow seamer Tareq, as Zimbabwe batsmen were
coming in and going out in no time! Mahmud`s accurate seamers were the ideal
type of bowling required in the overhead conditions, and he became the first
Bangladeshi bowler to ever pick up 4 wickets in a match, in their ODI history.
Mahmud, also known as “Chacha”, which means “Uncle” in Bangla because
of his "seniority", he proved his critics big-time wrong by bowling
the spell of his life. Mahmud`s bowling figures read 10-1-19-4, and honestly,
any bowler in the world would be proud of those figures. The gutsy little
cricketer again showed that he delivers when the chips are down, just like he
did in the historic victory over Pakistan in England 5 years back. It must be
said that Bangladesh missed the services of Rafique at the middle-stages of
the game, as Manjarul was unable to fill the huge shoes of Rafique (at least,
with the ball, if not with the bat). Zimbabwe were struggling at 6/124,when
Tareq scalped the important wicket of Rogers(54 off 67).A 33-run partnership
between Streak and Dion Ebrahim got the Zims back into the game, Ebrahim was
needlessly run-out off a brilliant direct-hit from Rajin. It was a very
similar way of proceedings between the two teams. A game of huge opening
partnerships and terrible middle-order batting. But the difference, once
again, proved to be the inspirational skipper himself Heath Streak(31*off
54).streak was lucky to be still in the crease, after TV replays showed he was
plum LBW, at his personal score of 2, but he made sure that there would be no
hiccups from his end, at least, and he and no.9 batsman Gary Brent(14 off
19)saw the Zimbabweans through in what has been a cliff-hanger of a
match…and indeed a very enthralling climax to a wonderful series. Zimbabwe
had Streak to bail them out, unfortunately Bangladesh had none in the
middle-order to get the total to somewhat near the
220-mark, which would have been a different story altogether.
Bangladesh does not deserve to be in the losing side because they have fought
very hard in this particular series, but it must be said that it was the
brilliance of Streak that saved them from hiding their faces-altogether,
Bangladesh were the better team with the bat and the ball (i.e. if you count
Streak out).
THE
CONCLUSION
Khaled
Mahmud, as a result of his 4-wicket haul, received the MOM (Man-of-the-Match)
award, and this is the least that he deserves, after his extraordinary heroics
with the ball in Harare today. Needless to say who the Man of the Series is.
Still guessing? Well,then you must not be following the BD-ZIM series at all,
Streak won the Man-of-the Series after his outstanding performance both with
the ball and the bat (as well as in the field)-and Zimbabwe won the Nissan ODI
Series 2-1.This was a very special tour for Bangladesh cricket, as they posted
their historic victory in Harare after a long span of 5 years. There were a
lot of plusses for Bangladesh, than for the home nation, as the youngsters
performed very well. Mohammed Ashraful, Rajin Saleh, Hannan Sarkar, Tareq Aziz,
Manjarul Rana, Khaled Mahmud, Mohammed Rafique & Khaled Mashud were the
standout performers…and this was also a important series for the Tigers as
they opened a new chapter of BD cricket under Habibul-Bashar. Bashar might
have not produced the runs regularly, but his captaincy impressed everyone.
Zimbabwe still has a long way to go…as Heath Streak was the standout
performer in the side...which is nothing different...…the youngsters did not
perform well when the chips were down. Barney Rogers looks to be a good
prospect though, and so does S.Ervine, but it is difficult to understand why
Stuart Matsikenyeri is in the side (he bats at no.8 and doesn’t bowl), as he
has been given ample chances to prove his worth, but he has failed to do so
every single time. The same thing applies for B.Mahwire. Although, Zimbabwe
won both the Test and ODI series, it is the African nation who will have more
headaches and negatives than the Asian “minnows”. Bangladesh has shown
that…they are now a force to reckoned with…and they are not the pushovers
of world cricket any more. Underestimate them, at your own peril!
