Rocket Test Series
First Test Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh Played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
Brief Score card at Stumps Of day Four
Bangladesh 513 (Mominul 176, Mushfique 92, Mahmudullah 88*, Tamim 52, Kayes 40, Lakmal 3/68, Herath 3/150) and 81 /3 (Tamim 41, Kayes 19, Mominul 18*)
Bangladesh scoring 513 in the first innings of the first test of the Rocket Test series against Sri Lanka at stumps of day four was seen perspiring for saving the test. Lankans scored 713/9 taking impregnable 200 runs lead. Scoring 81/3. Bangladesh trails by 119 runs and looks like losing the test as wicket has developed turn and bounce. Visitors have quality bowling attack to press home for a possible and probable win.
It is hard to believe that Bangladesh growing in maturity and quality in test cricket can have such a helpless plight on the home soil after doing so well in the first innings. The bowling unit suffered, suffered and suffered at the hands of not too experienced Sri Lankan Batting. Bangladesh conceded the second highest score in test cricket at home. Four front line bowlers conceded over 100 runs – Taijul Islam 219, Mehedy Miraj 174, debutant Sunzamul 153 and Mustafizur Rahman 113. Bangladesh won the test last time the teams met in Sri Lanka in the historic centenary test of Bangladesh.
For the pitiable plight of Bangladesh team questions come to mind that, has Bangladesh Cricket become Orphan? Is there no guardian of Bangladesh Cricket? Did pitch doctor (curator) prepared wicket suiting Sri Lankan strength ? Why Bangladesh had to appear with a very inexperienced bowling attack at a time Bangladesh possesses a battery of quality pace attack? Mustafiz appeared without a pace bowling partner in a test where other three of the front line attack played minimum numbers of test including a debutant . Why such inexperienced bowlers were made sacrificial goats? Did BCB do these to serve the purpose of the visitors especially to brighten the image of Hathurusingha, the former head coach of Bangladesh?
Everyone praised the brilliant batting of Bangladesh scoring 513 in the first innings. At the end of day one at 374/4 it promised for 600 or more. But Bangladesh could reach 513 for brave batting of captain Mahmudullah with lower middle to lower order batsmen. From the second session of day two till third session of day four Bangladesh toiled and failing to make Sri Lanka all out conceded a lead of 200.
On the same surface with the prospect of a defeat looming Bangladesh lost Tamim, Kayes and Mushfique wiping off only 81 runs deficit. With 7 wickets left it will be now a hard grind on the day five wicket against quality Lankan spin attack saving the test. Talented Mominul is still there. With his captain Mahmudullah (both test discard in not too distant past) they have to lead the savior mission. It will be great if they do. But the prospect looks gloomy. Will BCB think tank accept responsibility for producing such a wicket? Will they own the ignominy of defeat for appearing with understrength inexperienced bowling line up?
On bilateral series hosts always prepare wickets to their own strength. Is the Chittagong Wicket prepared like that? Was it prepared to suit Sri Lankans? Was it BCB or Cricket Sri Lanka that prescribed the surface?
Going back to the fourth days play Sri Lanka started the day on 504/3 still 9 runs adrift. Bangladeshi bowlers toiled relentlessly on unresponsive wicket or Sri Lankan batsmen batted superbly. 209 runs were added for the loss of another 6 wickets taking the visitors 200 runs in front. As it happens after such marathon bowling and fielding Bangladesh crumbled to 81/3 still 119 to make visitors bat again. Poor Taijul Islam created a new record which he would not have loved to associate his name with .He bowled the highest number of balls 67.3 overs taking 4 wickets for 213 runs. He had to do that as he was the most experienced bowler with 16 tests behind him.
Bangladesh had option of fielding veteran quality spinner Abdur Razzak included in the squad. Bangladesh should not have appeared with alone pacer having some quality pacers in the squad. In recent time pace bowling was the strength. For some reasons Bangladesh in home series producing sub standard wickets. Possibly in Chittagong test they are going to be caught in their own trap.
We must congratulate Sri Lanka for brilliant batting. After conceding 513 runs many teams loose their way. Taking 200 runs lead against home team requires gutsy and quality batting. BKG Mendis (196), DM de Silva (173), ARS Silva (109), Dinesh Chandimal (87) and N Dickwella (62) really batted brilliantly. We must praise Bangladeshi bowlers also for toiling very hard on a dead surface.
But as soon as Sri Lanka started bowling the characteristic of the wicket changed. Lakmal, Herath and Perera started getting assistance from the wearing pitch. Tamim and Kayes again gave good start but failed to convert. But the telling blow was Herath removing Mushfique which eventually turned out to be the last ball of the day. Mominul is still there on 18. It will be uphill task for little bird and the rest of the batting first avoiding the innings defeat and then going on saving the test. Well nothing is impossible in cricket. But it won’t be easy on a wearing wicket with quality Lankan spin attack pouncing.
BDST: 0841 HRS, FEB 4, 2018
SI
