Bangladesh503 [ ImrulKayes 130 ,Tamim Iqbal 109 , Shakib Ul Hasan 71 , Mominul Huq 48, , Rubel Hossain 45 , Subhagato Hom 35, Sikandar Raza 3/123, Hamilton Masakadza 2/23, 2/77 ,T Panyangara 2/ 70 , SW Masakadza 2/77] ,and 319/5 (Mominul Haque 131* , Tamim Iqbal 65, Mushfiqur Rahman 46, Mhamudullah Riad 30 , T Panyangara 2/31 , NM Shangawe 2/77] lead Zimbabwe 374 (E Chigumbura 88, Sikandar Raza 82, Hamilton Masakadza 81, RW Chakabva 65, Jubair Hossain 5 / 96, Shafiul Islam 2 / 50 ) and 71/1 [ Sikandar Raza 43* and Hamilton Masakadza 26*] by 378 runs
“Little Bird “Mominul “Shourav” is already spreading his “misty shourav” meaning sweet fragrance in the gardens of world cricket. His fourth test century, third in three tests he played at Chittagong his greater home district has built the fortress of Bangladesh for launching yet another victory parade for a series white wash against Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh needs to take 9 more wickets on the fifth day as Zimbabwe chasing an improbable victory target of 449 on a wearing wicket was 71/1 at stumps on the fourth day. Bangladesh declared a bit conservatively well into the last session at 319/5. Mominul was not out on a well compiled 131. Tamim Iqbal was looking good for a second century in the test until he failed to defend a ball bouncing low and getting played on at his score of 65 of the bowling of M’Sangwe. Mahmudullah and Mushfique batted with aggression adding 30 and 46 before Mushfique declared the innings.
Shakib scoring 17 took his series aggregate to 251 runs. He has taken 18 wickets so far. Another enviable record will beacon him if he gets two more wickets today. If he gets 5 wickets it will take him to the mountain top of selected club of all-rounders which no one have peaked. Final day proceedings will be watched with rapt attention by hungry billions of Bangladeshis all over the world. How cricket is making the nation proud! Mominul and Shakib achieving milestones are being discussed with pride and honor in the cricket world. Success is breeding success. Bangladesh cricket is graduating with renewed assurance.
When Zimbabweans started their mission for survival, Rubel Hossain completed Brian Chari's pair in the second over after which Hamilton Masakadza and Sikandar Raza ran at the Bangladesh bowlers for the last hour. Raza and Masakadza with 43 and 26 respectively were looking assured and confident at stumps. But they have a long difficult path to traverse on the final day when playing Bangladeshi spinners on a turning track of disconcertingly uneven bounce may create huge challenges.
For Bangladesh it culminated in to series of milestones. With another 300+ innings Bangladesh had its highest test aggregate of 822. This was Bangladesh first 300+ in both innings of a test. Bangladesh also took its series aggregate to a record 1858 runs –the best ever.
Starting the day at 23/0 Bangladesh lost Kayes early to a beautiful swinging delivery of Panyngara. Mominul the “Dwarf Little Master” affectionately told by his admirers joined Tamim. The brilliant greater Chitagonians championed Bangladesh batting with crisp strokes and intelligently taken singles. It was treat to watch how restrained Tamim was shouldering arms to deliveries targeting the corridor of uncertainty outside his off stamp channel. Both played delightful drives, cuts and pulls. The partnership was flourishing and another century of Tamim was looming unfortunately he got a low turning delivery from spinner M’Shangwe which he failed to fend off.
Tamim scored another bright 65 in a partnership of 113 for the second wicket. Mominul who has already become a rock in Bangladesh batting was at his fluent best .He played several exquisite drives and ended up with 131 runs which was his third century in as many tests he played at Chittagong.He spent nervous moments on 89 when a very confident lbw appeal was reviewed after it was turned down. The ball was too high and the on-field umpire's decision stood. He also spent agonizing 23 minutes in nervous nineties till he reached the milestones with a guided slash bisecting point and third man.
Poorman’s Bradman , Bangla Tendulakr as few termed him already started calling him has now joined Everton Weekes, Alec Stewart, Matthew Hayden, Jacques Kallis, Simon Katich and Kumar Sangakkara as batsmen with 50-plus scores in nine consecutive Tests. He has also become the fourth batsman after Weekes, Sunil Gavaskar and Mark Taylor to score 50-plus eleven times in his first 12 Tests.
Mominul average among those who have played more than 20 test innings is now a staggering 63.05 after 23 innings in 12 tests. Only the peerless Bradman with 99.96 is above him. Other three who have batting average above 60 are South African Graeme Pollock 60.97, West Indian George Hadlee 60.93 and English great Hurbert Sutcliffe 60.73. Among the current players Kumara Sangrakara with 58 .76 is at seventh and Younis Khan with 53.98 is at nineteenth.
It will be too premature to compare him with the greats yet. He has a long way to go. But comparison will always appear as he achieves new milestones. We are sure that he will not be wasted like Vinod Kumbli who had more auspicious beginning than even great Sunil Gavaskar. He is a soft spoken ideal boy who is humble and willing learner as far as we have learned about him.
Mushfique had a predetermined target of about 450 and wanted to reach there by the end of first hour after tea .Mahmudullah, Mushfique and Shakib all were in a hurry. Riad scored 30 off 28 balls with three fours and a six . Mushfiqur blasted four boundaries and two sixes in his 30-ball 46. It was a consensus among the commentators and cricinfo live viewers that a target of 400 was more than enough and that could have given additional time to Bangladeshi bowlers to go for the kill. Mushfique possibly wanted a safety cushion first.
Rubel struck a vital blow removing pathetic Brian Chari for a duck making it a dreadful pair .But Raza and Masakadza counter attacked Bangladeshi bowlers striking an unbeaten 67 runs second wicket partnership. The visitors will launch their “mission survival “against probing Bangladesh attack on the fifth morning. No team has chased 449 in test history and for this Zimbabwean team on a slow low turning track it is beyond imagination. The first hour of the first session is very crucial. Bangladesh spinners have to bowl like coiling cobras and fielders hound like roaring tigers. If they can crack the developing partnership early Zimbabweans may not survive long. Bangladesh must not panic.
But again cricket remains a Game of Glorious Uncertainty. Nothing must be taken for granted. One can be fooled so easily if one becomes too much assured. A win will credit Bangladesh with a series white wash consolidating their 9 th position in ICC test ranking. There must not be much woozy even if that is not achieved. Bangladesh has already done enough in the series. Another point of interest would be how many wickets Shakib gets. He needs two to reach a milestone of scoring all-rounders’ milestone of 250 runs and 20 wickets in a test series. A haul of five will overtake Ashwins tally of most wickets in a three test series But at this moment nation is keeping the fingers crossed to have a party time tonight.
Joel Garner and Clive Lloyd were Big Birds in World Cricket .Diminutive Mominul Shourav is our Small Bird. He is out weaving bird weaving the nest. Bangladesh should be as calm and confident like this small giant from Cox’s Bazar in every affair
** “Likhon” Wrote the Script for the Tigers
BDST: 0852 HRS, NOV 16, 2014
