OBHAI Tri Nation T20 series 1st match Bangladesh Vs Zimbabwe played at SBNCS Dhaka
Brief Scorecard
Bangladesh 148/7 (AfifHossian 52, MosaddeqHossain 30*, Liton Das 19, SabbirRahman 15, Madziva 2/25, Zarvis 2/31, Chatara 2/32) beat Zimbabwe 144/5 (RP Burt 57, H Masakadza 34, CT Mutombodzi 27* , MosaddeqHossain 1/10, Taijul Islam 1/26, Mohammad Saifuddin 1/31 ,Shakib 0/49) by 3 wickets.
Bangladesh survived by the skin of the teeth. Explosive 52 by teenager Afif Hossain off 26 balls and excellent 82 runs 7th wicket partnership in desperate situation between him and Mosaddeq salvaged Bangladesh from a humiliating defeat that was looming large yesterday at SBNC in the first match of OBHAI triangular T20 series.Bangladesh won by 3 wickets with 3 balls to spare.
Terribly shaken Bangladesh still smartening from crushing defeat by Afghanistan in test was looking down the barrel at 60/6 responding to Zimbabwe set target of 144/5 in rain curtailed 18 overs match. It was only the second T20 international Afif played and his power packed innings rescued Bangladesh from the Jaw of almost certain defeat. Zimbabweans were smelling victory reducing Bangladesh to 60/6 by the 10th over when Afif joined Mosaddeq as the 8th batsman. Bangladesh was in all sorts of trouble. Choosing counter attack as the best form of defense the pair savaged the Zimbabwean attack racing to 82 match winning partnership in 47 deliveries. Unnerved Afif struck 8 fours and 1 six, while Mosaddeq in his unbeaten 30 scored two over boundaries.
Heavy rain of the previous day and overnight from the effect of low pressure developed in the Bay of Bengal threatened to wash out the match. But rain ceased, improved drainage facility and efforts of grounds staff made the playing surface ready after brief delay .The match was restricted 18 overs a side. Spin heavy Bangladesh appeared with 9 batsmen. Mustafiz and Saifuddin were off course added as pacers .Shakib won the toss and under cloudy sky started the bowling attack with other left arm spinner Taijul as his partner. Taijul playing his first T20 international struck with his very first delivery Tylor caught by Mahmudullah. The tourists were 1/7 in the very second over.
Veteran Masakadza and Ervine started doing the resurrection act and added 44 useful runs in the 2nd wicket partnership before Mustafiz brought into the attack in the 7th over had Ervine caught by Mosaddeq .Saifuddin introduced in the next over also had instant success removing well set Masakdaza (34) having him caught by a blinder of Sabbir Rahman. At 5/63 in the 10th over Bangladesh kept the visitors in the tight leash. But Shakib for his poor management of bowling resources let the visitors get off the hook. Tow little known leg spinner all rounders RP Burl and Mutombodzi blasted Bangladesh attack with an unbroken 81 runs 6thwicket. Shell shocked Shakib alone in his last over gave away as many as 30 runs. Some observers were pulling legs that the counter attack of Burl was so savage that it put off the flood lights at the conclusion of the 17thover .Shakib had bowling options . Young Afif is a regular spinner and in the warm up match against the same opposition he was the lone success.
But the worse was to follow. Bangladesh appeared to be in a hurry. Top and early middle order miserably failed to tight bowling and inspired fielding of the visitors. By the 5th over Bangladesh lost Soumya, Liton ,Musfique and Shakib for only 29 runs on board. All four fell to pace attack of Jarvis and Chatara. Soumya went for 4, Shakib threw away his wicket scoring only 1 and Mushfique was out very first ball. Mahmudullah and Sabbir tried to resurrect the innings for a while. . But they two fell soon making it 6/60 by 9.3 overs.
Perhaps Mahmudullah was a bit unlucky given out LBW to a leg spinner of Burl. . Had it not been umpires call his review could have been successful. No one not even the staunchest of Bangladesh cricket admirers were dreaming of a win as teenager Afif walked in to join young Mosaddeq . In domestic cricket this two very often produce explosive innings. In the prevailing stage of the match that was possibly the only option. How clinically they executed. Their savage counter attack appeared to make Masakdazarunning out of ideas. Very skillfully Afif with his matured head over young shouldered sprinted Bangladesh past the victory mark. Playing fearless cricket, he scored (52 in 26 deliveries) maiden fifty in only his second T20 international. Zimbabwe played well till the Tsunami batting of Afif and Mosaddeq. Their bowling and fielding looked OK. But possibly they had a bowler short. Their efforts otherwise was commendable.
Mosaddeq remained not out on 30. Bangladesh had sigh of relief. A loss could have further dampenthe sagging morale of the Bangladesh team.
The match should give another wake up call to Bangladesh team management. Stars favored as Bangladesh was rescued by young Turks .Top order batting including the opening partnership looks pretty ordinary. Soumyaagain proved a wrong investment. Shakib had a bad day in the office. He bowled and batted poorly and made strategic mistakes in managing his bowling resources. Mushfique looked jittery. Shakib would try to defend 9 batsmen and spin heavy attack. But his own bowling is not at its usual level. For the second time in succession he threw away his wicket chasing ball way outside his off stump. He will definitely look back what options he had. Mosaddeq even after his miserly 3 overs costing only 10 was not given 4th over, Afif was not even brought to bowling. We have already talked about his 30 runs over which almost cost Bangladesh the match. With this strategy Bangladesh may suffer against much stronger Afghanistan. Even the Zimbabwe would not loose another match from the same situation.
Can some one tell BCB president not appearing in media too often? Let the players play the game and let team management handle the matters.
BDST: 1014 HRS, SEP 14, 2019
AH
