The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Bangladesh posts highest ever total, Rafique emulates Bashar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 31, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Bangladesh posts highest ever total, Rafique emulates Bashar

ST. LUCIA, MAY 30. Mohammad Rafique hit an unbeaten, maiden Test century as Bangladesh notched up its highest ever total on a rainy second day of the opening Test against the West Indies at Beausejour Stadium.

The visitor, overnight 278 for seven, used Rafique's unbeaten 103 to power its first innings on Saturday to 406 for nine on a day shortened to just 41.1 overs.

The 34-year-old, in just his 11th Test, brought up three figures by blasting his 11th four through the covers just before play ended early due to bad light.

He also counted two leg-side sixes off 138 balls in 215 minutes. Heavy overnight and early morning rain forced a four-and-a-half hour delay to the start to the second day.

But on resumption, Rafique and Mohammad Ashraful quickly restored Bangladesh's edge by stretching their overnight eighth wicket partnership to a record 87. The 19-year-old Ashraful, resuming on 65, missed out on his century when he was plainly leg before to Jermaine Lawson for 81. The right-hander stroked nine boundaries off 224 balls in four and a half hours. Rafique was 52 when he lost Ashraful but fast bowlers Tapash Baishya and Tareq Aziz provided support to help him past his milestone. Baishya spent 34 deliveries over nine runs before leg-spinner Ramnaresh Sarwan held a brilliant return catch centimetres from the ground to end his resistance. Rafique, better known for his left-arm spin and whose previous highest Test score was 32, made the most of his opportunities against a flagging West Indies attack on a pitch devoid of pace and bounce.

He became just the 13th player to notch a century from the No. 9 position in the order.

Rafique's innings, which followed captain Habibul Bashar's 113 on the opening day, also meant that Bangladesh had two century-makers in the same innings for the first time.

The West Indies should have wrapped up the innings with Rafique's wicket twice before the score passed 400. But Fidel Edwards continued his dreadful match with two more dropped catches.

Rafique was 83 when he survived against Sarwan after pulling straight to square leg. One run later, Edwards grassed a firm return chance to his right as Rafique drove.

The fast bowler had made two costly errors on day one, flooring regulation offerings with Ashraful at 35 and 52.

Tareq Aziz survived unfussed for 33 balls in making four not out as his seasoned partner made history at the other end. Sarwan, with a career-best three for 51 off 22.1 overs, was the best of the home team's bowlers. — AP

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