Shakib’s boys win Day One

January 18, 2010

The morning didn’t show the day for the Indians at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the port city on Sunday. India amassed 63 runs without losing any wicket from 13 overs in the first session giving indication that the much-praised batting line-up were going to pile up a mammoth total after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan had decided to bowl first to exploit the overcast condition. Many might have been frustrated by the performance of the local bowlers in the first session but everything changed dramatically after the lunch session when India lost wickets like ninepins, thanks to the disciplined bowling effort by the Bangladeshi bowlers, especially Shakib and Shahadat Hossain were outstanding. It was a disastrous second session for India as they lost six wickets for 97 runs. And at the end of the day, Tigers proved that they have the quality to pull off surprise even in the longer-version of the game as an improving side. Sachin Tendulkar may have stood tall to frustrate Shakib’s men a little bit but it was a memorable day nonetheless for the Tigers considering the fact that the Indian batting had hardly collapsed like that in the recent past when making over 400 runs has become a common feature of their batting.

Left-arm spinner Shakib, who is considered by his coach Jamie Siddons as the best spinner in the world, not only opened the floodgate by removing danger-man Virender Sehwag (52 off 51 balls), who offered a simple catch to Tamim Iqbal at extra cover in the second over of the second session but also led the attack from the front taking the maximum workload on his shoulder.

Right-arm paceman Shahadat Hossain, who was unlucky not to complete a deserved five-for as Shafiul Islam dropped a sitter from Zaheer Khan and then indecision from three fielders deprived him taking the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar on 76, was as aggressive as he could have been to give his skipper great support.

Shakib though praised all his bowlers for putting in a superb performance against a strong batting line-up.

“I think our main target was to bowl an accurate line and length. The bowlers did their job and the fielders supported them although we missed a couple of catches. As I said they can always make mistakes. If we bowl in the right area good number of times, they are bound to make mistakes. That is what happened,” said a confident Bangladesh skipper.

The 22-year old Bangladesh skipper however didn’t agree with Tendulkar’s idea that condition played the vital role behind the collapse of Indian batting, rather he thanked his pace bowlers to cause the damage.

“I think condition helped us as the ball spun well in the morning but as the day progressed, it spun less. Rajib (Shahadat Hossain) bowled at very good spots. Not only Rajib, all three of our pacers bowled at very good spots and I supported them. It was a total team effort,” he said adding that they never gave much of a thought to what Sehwag said, rather their main focus was to stick to their own plan.

“There was something on the wicket. There was moisture. It was gripping. There was a bit of turn there and that’s why I continued from one end,” he added.

Shakib also explained the reason he used his pace bowlers in short spells.

“Our fast bowling coach (Ramanayeke) and (head coach) Jamie always talked about it (for using short spells). We want to make sure that our fast bowlers do not get tired by bowling in five or six overs in a spell,” he said praising Shahadat who came back strongly after being punished by Sehwag.“Those two bowlers (Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain), though did not get any wicket, did bowl very well. Especially Shafiul bowled really well. It is a good thing that Shahadat got wickets. When he gets wickets, he gets his confidence back. He did not play for a long time. I don’t think it is easy for anyone to make a comeback and bowl on a perfect line and length as he did,” he said.

Shakib however rued the dropped chances.

“It was a very good day for us. Maybe they could have been 213 for ten. We missed two chances. One thing is that there was no referral system. I think we needed that. If we managed those catches things could have been more different. Rajib deserved five wickets today,” he said.

Shakib politely avoided being drawn into a war of words with his Indian counterpart after his side’s brilliant performance in the middle but there is any doubt that he has proved his counterpart wrong at least for a day.

Shakib’s boys win Day One

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