The Hindu : Sport : Red-letter day for Bangladesh

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Tuesday, Mar 27, 2007
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Red-letter day for Bangladesh

S. Ram Mahesh

Port of Spain: For a few moments in the gathering gloom, it looked like India might board the flight to Antigua after all. It would have been an embarrassing entry into the Super Eight indeed; Rahul Dravid said his side didn't deserve it but a chance to progress mustn't be sneezed at.

Instead, Mohammad Ashraful and Saqibul Hasan kept their wits to ensure March 25, 2007 will be entered in Bangladesh's cricket history as a resplendent, liberating day. Bangladesh did it the hard way — it braved rain interruptions to win a 21-overs-a-side shootout, the kind that can so easily turn turtle for the favourite.

Tricky affair

Abridged games carry great risk for the more skilled side. A battle of considerable length flattens out spikes of chance and fortune, like a knotty string stretched. The side with greater skill will win such battles more often than not. Shortened combat with its near irreversible momentum swings favours the broke punter — a lesser side can lose big, but it can just as easily sneak a win.

It's a risk captain Habibul Bashar and coach Dav Whatmore were well aware of.

"If you play 50 overs, you know you have a fair chance. You can lose early wickets and come back," said Bashar. "But in a 20-overs game, two wickets can make it very tough to get back in the game."

At 37 for three, Bangladesh had it tough. But, Ashraful "Nervous? Who me?" and Saqibul added an unbeaten 59 in 10.2 overs to take Bangladesh home. Ashraful was dropped twice, but didn't panic. He talked Saqibul into staying with him and running incredulous singles.

"This game was the most difficult game to win to try and qualify," said Whatmore. "To wait all day and play 20 overs against a team you're expected to beat when the ball is doing a lot is very difficult. It's not a situation the boys have been in. Sure the heart was pumping. But, the boys were determined to go to the Super Eight, and they were determined to let nothing stop them."

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE: Mohammad Ashraful rode his luck and in the company of Saqibul Hasan booked Bangladesh's Super Eight berth. — PHOTO: AFP

Mukuddem's burst

Saleem Mukuddem had given Bermuda and India hope with a first-rate spell of seam bowling. In overcast conditions on a wet wicket, his swing and cut left Bangladesh's top-order clueless. But, his partner Kevin Hurdle the stunning, athletic catch at third-man notwithstanding offered inadequate support. He bowled three wides and over-stepped seven times in his four-over spell to give Bangladesh easy runs.

It must be said, however, that Bermuda came off worse at the toss.

Consequently, the amateur batsmen had to deal with frequent breaks in concentration, constant tinkering with the length of the match, and the helpful bowling conditions.

"It was very difficult," said Bermuda captain Irving Romaine. "We never got started really. The rain messed up a good game. We were really determined to come hard at Bangladesh, but the rain hindered us. You saw that (coming hard) in our bowling effort. For Bangladesh, it was easier batting second, knowing exactly what to do."

Wicketkeeper Dean Minors top-scored with a 25-ball 23, but it was Lionel Cann's thrilling 16 off six balls, inclusive of the biggest six hit at the refurbished Queen's Park Oval, that jump-started a sputtering Bermuda innings.

Extras prove costly

Romaine said the 21 extras conceded and the catches dropped cost the side.

"Yeah, the extras, at one time they were, like, half their score," he said.

"Kevin (Hurdle) was really pushing himself, and gave away a few, but I love him to death, I do." Bashar said he felt relieved more than anything else. "This wasn't like the India match," he said. "Then the celebrations were big. Here the whole country was expecting us to get into the Super Eight. Cricket is very big in Bangladesh, and I'm relieved we went through."

Bangladesh's seven-wicket win (D/L method) has established India's exit. Did Romaine think he owed Indian fans an apology? "India, you know, did it to themselves," he said with a guffaw. "The quality team that they are, they shouldn't be relying on Bermuda."

SCOREBOARD

Bermuda: S. Outerbridge c Rafique b Mortaza 0, O. Pitcher c Bashar b Hasan 22, D. Borden c Bashar b Mortaza 2, D. Hemp c Aftab b Rasel 0, I. Romaine lbw b Razzak 11, D. Minors c Tamim b Razzak 23, L. Cann b Hasan 16, J. Tucker c Tamim b Rafique 9, K. Hurdle b Razzak 0, S. Mukuddem (not out) 0; Extras (lb-5, nb-2, w-4): 11; Total (for nine wkts. in 21 overs): 94.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-8, 3-11,4-35, 5-52, 6-73, 7-86, 8-94, 9-94.

Bangladesh bowling: Mortaza 4-0-8-2, Rasel 5-0-14-1, Razzak 4-0-20-3, Rafique 4-0-18-1, Hasan 3-0-12-2, Aftab 1-0-17-0.

Bangladesh (Revised target 96 in 21 overs): T. Iqbal c Hurdle b Mukuddem 1, S. Nafees c Tucker b Mukuddem 12, A. Ahmed lbw b Mukuddem 7, S. Hasan (not out) 26, M. Ashraful (not out) 29; Extras (b-4, nb-3, w-14): 21; Total (for three wkts. in 17.3 overs): 96.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-30, 3-37.

Bermuda bowling: Hurdle 4-0-25-0, Mukuddem 5-1-19-3, Tucker 3-0-14-0, Leverock 3.3-0-19-0, Borden 2-0-15-0.

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