Dan Cake Test Series. Bangladesh Vs Pakistan.

Score Card at Stumps Day Three

Bangladesh 203 (Shakib Al Hasan 89*, Yasir Shah 3-58) and 63 for 1 (Tamim Iqbal 32*, Mominul Haq 15*) need 487 runs to beat Pakistan 557 for 8 declared (Azhar Ali 226, Younis Khan 148, Asad Shafique 107, Taijul Islam 3/ 179, Mohammad Shahid 2/ 72   , Shubhagato Hom 2/79) and 195 for 6 declared (Misbah Ul Haq 82, Younis Khan 39, Mohammad Shahid 2/23)

Day four of decisive Dhaka test will start with Bangladesh up against history. Never before any team could chase a target of 550 for winning a test. Bangladesh will have to rewrite the history. The wicket has considerably deteriorated, cracks have widened, bounce got uneven, roughs have been created from foothold of Pakistani left arm pacers. A very Willy customer Yasir Shah is mixing his variations – goggly, flippers, top spins very intelligently. Wahab Riaz is looking fast and furious, Junaid is swinging in either directions. It does not need an Albert Einstein to predict outcome of the test. Pakistan is firm favorites .But again men create history, history do not create men. Tiger fans have to keep their fingers crossed.

Bangladesh must get the credit due for keeping Pakistan without joy till the penultimate day of their ODIs, T20 and tests series. Bangladesh has won ODIs and T20 and earned a very highly creditable draw in the first test. If we look back in retrospect the very fact Pakistan did not dare to put Bangladesh to follow on even after getting 354 runs lead evidence how Bangladesh cricket has earned respect of a very intelligent Pakistan Captain Misbah Ul Haq. He wanted safety net first – a huge run cushion of 550 to let Bangladesh bat again on a wearing fourth day wicket.

The tale of the test was all but written at stumps on day two when Bangladesh had half of its soldiers back home scoring only 107 in response to Pakistan’s run mountain of 557 /8 declared. A very scary spell of aggressive fast bowling by monster Wahab Riaz early on third morning further decimated Bangladesh. Caged tigers were coughing blood at 8/140 with Shahadat not able to bat. Brave Shakib appeared with his sword. His merciless onslaught enthralled the early morning holiday crowd. Unbeaten 89 he scored in 91 deliveries with 14 fours and two sixes .What appeared the last wicket partnership with Shahid 63 runs were added when Shahid contributed only 1. Shakib became the first Bangladeshi cricketer scoring over 1000 runs in Shere Bangla Stadium. If only Bangladesh could survive the fiery spell of Wahab Riaz things could be different. But that is test cricket.
Misbah did not impose his option of asking Bangladesh bat again.

When they batted second time even depleted Bangladesh attack looked lethal. Lion hearted Mohammad Shahid bowled brilliantly seaming and swinging and pitching on the corridor of uncertainty. Hafiz was consumed in the very first over; Sami Aslam also did not last long. Bangladesh missed Shahadat. Even Soumya bowled well. He accounted for Azhar Ali. Two main stays of Pakistan batting Younis Khan and Misbah steadied the boat. Edges dropped here and there. But lead continued to widen.

Though Bangladesh managed to take 6 wickets Misbah’s mauling of 82 in 72 balls put Pakistan firmly in the driving seat. With 550 runs in savings account Pakistan declared second time in the test with probable 194 overs and 6.5 sessions of play left.

No team ever in the history of test cricket has successfully chased that score. The wicket is by no means a batting paradise. Even on third day it misbehaved. Few balls bounced off good length, few died, and few turned viciously. On this snaky deck batting can be a serious ordeal. Nevertheless Bangladesh has a task at hand.

Tamim and Kayes started well and were looking good. Junaid, Imran and Wahab Raiz were handled with care and diligence .But on such a wicket a quality leg spinner is always a tramp card. Introduction of Yasir Shah made the inevitable to happen. One of his leg spin turned sharply pitching on a rough outside the off stump of Imrul Kayes and disturbed his furniture when matters looked almost safe for Bangladesh. Little Bird Mominul joined Tamim and played three delectable strokes off Wahab Riaz. Bangladesh could reach 63/1.

The battle for survival and mission impossible (?) will commence within few hours from now. Bangladesh is well and truly up against the history. It is an extremely difficult task. The first hour and the first session will be decisive.  Pakistanis will be fresh and so will be Bangladesh batsmen. Hope a nights rest will make Tamim also recover from whatever little difficulties he was having last afternoon. Bangladeshi Bradman Mominul is also due for his customary long innings. Shakib showed the way in his brave first innings batting.  Tiger fans are assured that the new look Bangladesh team will not hang up without a fight.

Yasir Shah needs to be handled with care. Better to play him on the front foot as much as practicable. The roughs created by the pacers will be causing danger. He must be read from his hand. Batsmen must think twice before shouldering arms against his goggly and flippers. Taking the front leg outside off stump and sweeping can be an option. But ball is also bouncing.  Odd balls are keeping.

Early morning spell of Wahab Riaz must also require to be handled with care. No need to go for expansive drives and cuts. Tamim and Mominul must not poke outside off stump. If this pair can survive first session then the situation can be reassessed. But it is not easy at all. Bangladesh will really have to bat out of the skin to survive. Again I am telling it is a game of cricket where strange things happen. The brave batting in the second innings at Khulna is the inspiration. But it is another day, another wicket and another situation.

Even over these three days Bangladesh has few positives. Shahid is a discovery of this series. He bowled brilliantly in both innings. If only he had support of a quality front line pacer from other end or a quality leg spinner like Zubayer matters could be so different.  Shakib unleashed a savage counter attack. Who knows we may see emergence of some heroes today. Never write off brave Bangladeshi cricketers so early.

Today incidentally is the birth day of Bangladesh Captain Mushfiqur Rahim. Best wishes to Mushfique and his charge.

BDST: 0816 HRS, MAY 09, 2015
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