Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Historic Win For Bangladesh

The Bangladesh team lead by an terrific five-wicket winning performance from the off spinner Mahmudullah, Bangladesh recorded its first Test victory in a foreign country with a 95-run win over the West Indies side which warped to 181 all out in its second innings of the first Test at Arnos Vale.

Set of a target of 277 to win for the West Indies. The run chase was never sensibly on as Bangladeshi spinners pressured it into surrender and clutch out a significant defeat.

Mahmudullah pulled out up a bowling performance of 5-51 from 15 overs as Bangladesh got its only second Test victory. The previous victory was being against the Zimbabwe at their home ground. That the team it beat was a quickly planned bunch of cricketers gathered the night before the Test did not matter to the Bangladeshis. That the initially selected squad of regular players took industrial action was of little concern to the young and motivated team.

In spite of a flexible half century from the caribeeian all rounder, David Bernard Jr, the home side folded in 70.1 overs with no other batsman being able to get past 19 runs mark.

Bangladesh commenced the final day on 321-5 and was quickly discharged with its last five wickets falling for only 18 runs and the innings ended on 345. Darren Sammy (30.1-6-70-5) picked up his second career five-wicket haul to allow the Windies a possibility to chase victory.

They had the limit of 80 overs to achieve 277 but lost both openers Dale Richards and Omar Phillips for 14 each in post lunch session, which was taken to 66-2.

In pre lunch session, Mahmudullah struck three significant blows to leave the home side stagger at 82-5. First the debutant spinner trapped captain Floyd Reifer leg before for 19, and then had Travis Dowlin caught by Imrul Kayes also for 19 and wicketkeeper, Chadwick Walton, like Reifer, went leg before for 10.

There was a interlude of fight between Bernard, who made an impressive unbeaten 52 and Darren Sammy who was the third batsman to pass on 19. At 119, left arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan struck as Sammy essayed an uncontrolled gashed stroke and was caught by Shahadat Hossain at point.

Bernard, who perilously faced 134 deliveries and hit five insignificant fours, then found an ally in Nikita Miller (5) who resisted for 17.2 overs but Mohammad Ashraful broke the 32-run joint venture when Miller edged to wicketkeeper, Mushfiqur Rahim. The enduring three wickets were floored in the next 12.3 overs and the Bangladeshis went berserk in celebration even ripping out the stump cameras as they romped, embraced and screeched in understandable gladness at their historic success.

Mahmudullah returned to secure his third lbw victim and Kemar Roach made three from six balls before he nicked to Mushfiqur. The ninth wicket fell in the 66th over and Shakib formalized the victory when he found stranded Tino Best (9) plumb in front.

Shakib, who captained the side in place of the injured Mashrafe Mortaza, proved an able and shrewdness leader and supported with 3-39 from 28.1 overs.

The series now moves to Grenada for the final Test before the three-match ODI Series and a one-off Twenty20 International in Dominica and St Kitts.

No comments: