Zimbabwe Crush Bangladesh To Humiliating Defeat
Abeda AshrafEditor
Posted - 2018-11-06T17:28:59+06:00
Updated - 2018-11-06T17:30:59+06:00
In the first Test of the two match Test series, visiting Zimbabwe defeated Bangladesh by a huge margin of 151 runs.
It was not a flash in the pan. As a far better team in all departments, Zimbabwe crushed Bangladesh to 151 runs defeat within three and a little over half a day of the historic first ever Test match played at the Sylhet International Cricket stadium.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, the visitors did well scoring 282 all out in the first innings. Then their pace duo Jarvis and Chatara bowling intelligently and accurately broke the back of Bangladesh batting in the opening bust reducing them to 19/4.
Shocked and awed Bangladesh could not recover getting bundled out for 143 conceding a massive lead of 139. The visitors did well scoring 182 in the second innings despite brilliant bowling by Bangladeshi spinning trio Taijul, Miraz and Nazmul.
They presented an unassailable target of 321. Bangladesh succumbed to 151 runs defeat getting all out for 169 with over four session and a bit to spare.
Zimbabwean spinning trio Mavuta (4/21),
(3/41) and WP Masakadza 2/33 took the wind out of Bangladesh sail as the Bangladesh boat capsized in the mid river.
It was the only third victory away from home for the Zimbabweans and the first since 2001. Due credits must be given to the visitors for wonderful turning around after getting a comprehensive white wash in the ODI series only a few days in the past.
For Bangladesh, the Test night mare got extended and this time a crushing defeat against one of the weakest team in world cricket. The home team batted for 51+63.1 = 114.1 overs in all in two innings on a wicket, which, according to their captain Mahmudullah, was not too difficult for batting.
Zimbabwe in only their first innings batted for 117.3 overs. There can not be any excuse for one or two deserving players missing for poor selection. Even the senior players who are mainstays in the team batted terribly poor showing no class, quality or demonstrating commitment or application.
It was complete brain freeze and mid-block the way the entire team played the Test. It will now be a huge task for the team think tank working out strategy for the second and only other Test in Dhaka for saving the humiliation of getting white washed.
If one views in retrospect, one can not link much with the nature and quality of the wicket for the abysmal performance of the team in batting. In the first innings, Zimbabwean pacers Jervis and Chatara rocked Bangladesh and in the second, Zimbabwean spinners crushed Bangladesh.
The wicket did not have anything for the pacers neither it was a spinners' paradise. Bangladeshi batsmen fell to their own follies. Amazingly not too in the distant past most of these batsmen blasted this attack in ODI format. How can the change of format make such a huge difference?
Take no credit away from the Zimbabweans. They had right measures of the home team and deservedly won the Test.
Tamim and Shakib were also not there in the ODI. So they cannot come into the equation. The front line Bangladesh batsmen do not regularly appear in the local longer version cricket. Ironically BCB selectors do not consider the better performers of domestic cricket in longer version as international class. Add some iffy selection of some players.
The poor batting of Bangladesh in Test cricket is a well known phenomenon for a while. Then why Neil Mackenzie is engaged for limited over cricket only as special batting coach? Tushar Imran and
are prolific scorers in local cricket. How can players be unfit when they continuously score hundreds in hot humid tiring conditions at home? Did the fitter players batted at all well in the Test?
Why
preferred over tried and tested
or Mosaddek? In what format Shanto looked better? Why Saifuddin was ignored? What was the point of playing with one pace bowler? Did 7+1 = 8 batsmen option work?
[caption id="attachment_107673" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Taijul and Miraz contributed in Zimbabwean collapse[/caption]
Still I would say bowlers did exceptionally well. Taijul had a haul of 11 wickets, Nazmul Apu and Mehedi Miraz did their job.
Batting was terrible. Imrul, Litton. Mominul, Mahmudullah, Shanto, Mushfiqur looked pretty ordinary in both the innings. Only the debutant Ariful played well within himself proving that batting was not much difficult on the wicket.
Only a few days back Imrul was in superlative form. He got out to poor stroke in the first innings and was looking tentative in the second though he scored some runs. Litton looked pretty ordinary in either innings. Mominul possibly lost his confidence from continued chopping and changing. He requires mentoring for regaining his confidence.
I would blame Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur more. In absence of Tamim and Shakib, they were to shoulder the team. But they played irresponsible strokes in either innings. Cannot say much about Shanto. He is not yet an international class performer. Playing him was not doing justice to him also.
Bangladesh has to go back to drawing room and work out strategy. Soumya, Mithun and Tushar Imran must come into consideration. Bangladesh must forget Sylhet disaster as one of the nightmares.
Another spinning track may not serve Bangladesh cause. If Mustafiz is fit he must be back and also Soumya and Tushar must be given opportunity. Bangladesh looked vulnerable playing spin of Raza and Mavuta. Rather it will be easier for them playing limited Zimbabwean fast bowling resources. Hope Mominul, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah plays differently at their peak soon.
As for Zimbabwe, it was a wonderful come back. Their experienced batsmen Masakadza, Williams, Moore batted like true champions. Their patience, application and commitment were exemplary. The entire team bowled and fielded with purpose. They read each Bangladesh batsmen well and played to their patience.
Sikandar Raza is an experienced all-rounder. But we are particularly impressed with young leggie Mavuta. Chatara and Jervis also bowled exceptionally well on a wicket which had very little for the pacers.
Zimbabwe deserves all the credit for a wonderful Test victory. With more and more opportunity they will get back their past glory.
All attention will now be focused in Dhaka Test. It will be a huge shock if Bangladesh can not regroup and bounce back. It is all mental block. Something is very wrong with the psyche of Bangladesh batsmen. They can not master the skills playing the Test. Need lot of mentoring by competent batting coaches .