Match report Zimbabwe v Bangladesh 2003/04 3rd ODI by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Zimbabwe v Bangladesh

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There is a narrow line between confidence and complacency, and once again Zimbabwe crossed it, as they gave Bangladesh their first victory in 47 one-day internationals – in fact, since their win over Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup. They went down by eight runs, paying a heavy penalty for two periods of play when their complacency came to the fore. Firstly they allowed Bangladesh to stage a remarkable batting recovery at the end of their innings, and secondly their middle order caved in when victory looked assured.

 

It was hard to believe that Harare is in the same country as Bulawayo, as after two washouts the third match began in the capital, which is usually wetter than Bulawayo, under sunny skies. Heath Streak, perhaps still wary of the weather, put Bangladesh in to bat on winning the toss.

 

Bangladesh did not make a confident start, thanks mainly to a typically superb controlled opening spell from Streak himself, who beat the bat several times without luck. Alok Kapali did play a handsome straight drive off him for three and pulled Douglas Hondo for a superb four, but apart from those shots the openers struggled. Kapali was dropped at backward point, but failed to make the most of his luck, edging Hondo, who found a better line after a few off-side wides, to wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu. He made 9, and Bangladesh were 14 for one.

 

His partner Shahriar Hussain (2) soon followed, well caught low at backward point by Barney Rogers. Habibul Bashar and Rajin Saleh had to dig in, and to start with they mixed hesitant jabs with a few productive strokes. At this stage Bangladesh looked hopelessly outclassed. Apart from the missed catch, the Zimbabwean fielding was excellent and saved many runs. Then, with help from a bad over by Blessing Mahwire, worth 14 runs, the batsmen began to settle in and get the score moving again.

 

Saleh hit a ball from Raymond Price for a big straight six on to the roof of the media centre, and luck was with the batsmen as they sought to increase the scoring rate, several lofted shots just evading the fielders. Finally Bashar fell for 61, caught attempting to pull a ball from Grant Flower, after a partnership of 114 with Saleh. It was a welcome return to form by the Bangladeshi captain, whose team was 134 for three in the 37th over.

 

His dismissal saw a steady slump in his team’s fortunes. Mohammad Rafique was run out for 6 as Saleh tried to steal a quick run to Flower. Saleh himself soon followed for 57, hitting a huge skyer off Sean Ervine that was nearly misjudged by Hondo, who just held it high above his head at long on. Then came a bizarre dismissal, as the batsmen tried to steal a bye off an accidental beamer from Ervine – usually a Travis Friend speciality - only for Taibu brilliantly to throw down the stumps at the bowler’s end to dismiss Mushfiqur Rahman, slow off the mark, without scoring. Bangladesh were 160 for six in the 42nd over.

 

Then came some bold hitting by Mohammad Ashraful and Khaled Mahmud to guarantee a competitive total for Bangladesh. They added 41 off 33 balls before a good throw from Raymond Price ran out Mahmud for 22, bat in the air; 211 for seven after 47 overs. Ashraful, unaffected, raced to his fifty off 31 balls. Some sloppy fielding helped the batsmen score 89 off the last ten overs, reaching 238 for seven, with Ashraful on 51 and Khaled Mashud on 11. Streak with one for 34 in his 10 overs were the best bowlers, while Price and Flower as usual did their job in keeping the runs down.

 

When they replied, Zimbabwe experimented with yet another opening partnership, pairing the veteran Flower with the inexperienced Barney Rogers. Flower did not last long, scoring only 2 before being adjudged lbw to Tareq Aziz, playing half-forward; Zimbabwe 12 for one.

 

Stuart Carlisle was soon under way with two handsome fours, but shortly afterwards Rogers enjoyed a life, dropped at second slip off Tapash Baishya; next ball he lobbed a ball over midwicket and a very hard chance was missed there. But the two batsmen went for their shots and the fifty came up in the ninth over. Carlisle in particular took severe toll of anything straying towards leg, while Rogers hit former captain Khaled Mahmud, recalled to the team for the one-day series, over long leg for six.

 

Carlisle reached his fifty first, off 53 balls, and Rogers followed with his maiden fifty off 62 balls, only to drive a catch into the covers off Mushfiqur Rahman next ball. He made 51, and Zimbabwe were 121 for two after a partnership of 109. Taibu did not look comfortable and he scored 2 before pulling Rahman straight to midwicket; 129 for three.

 

Rahman bowled his ten overs without a break, doing an excellent restraining job and conceding only 30 runs for his two wickets. Mahmud took over and immediately struck gold, as Ervine (4) mistimed a pull. The ball lobbed well over midwicket and looked to be falling safe when substitute fielder Hannan Sarkar, running back at full speed, pulled off a brilliant diving catch with his back to the wicket; 139 for four. For the addition of only one run, Carlisle’s innings of 71 came to an end, as he checked a stroke against Rafique and midwicket running in took a simple catch. Bangladesh were now scenting victory with Zimbabwe at 140 for five. A little complacency by Zimbabwe, and they had pounced.

 

Streak and Dion Ebrahim worked hard to dig their side out of trouble, but the required run rate, earlier below four an over, slowly rose until it was more than six an over. Still, with 29 together off 53 balls, they had laid a good foundation and were just turning the situation around when Ebrahim (13) hit wildly across the line and was bowled by Rafique; 169 for six.

 

Virtually everything depended on Streak now, with his vast experience and sound temperament, and if he could stay and find a partner then Zimbabwe would still win. Mohammad Rafique was again a key bowler for Bangladesh, and his ten overs finished with two for 33. This should have eased the pressure for Zimbabwe; instead they sealed their death warrant as Streak (30 off 40 balls) miscued a full toss from Baishya and the wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud took the catch running back. At 199 for seven in the 45th over, Zimbabwe had reached the stage of needing a miracle they did not deserve.

 

Stuart Matsikenyeri and Price put all they had into achieving this miracle, with Price hitting Mahmud over long on for six, and 19 were needed off the last two overs. But their inability to score either boundaries or singles with enough consistency told against them and it never really looked likely, despite some nervy fumbles in the field.

 

In the final over 13 were needed, and Tareq Aziz bowled Matsikenyeri (20), leg stump, with the first ball as he slogged across the line. Next ball Hondo, with a runner, slogged and lost his off stump, but Mahwire avoided the hat-trick with an uppish drive for two through extra cover. But the task was too great, and there were great scenes of jubilation as Bangladesh celebrated their long-awaited and hard-earned success. Aziz finished with three for 38, but was expensive, and it was Rahman and Rafique who did most with the ball to ensure their team’s victory.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 John Ward)