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| Bangladesh couldn't keep it together in the second innings. |
Test cricket is so unpredictable. That’s why I love it, and why it will always live on. It was on show again on a gloomy last day in Mirpur. Starting the day at 5/114, there was still a pulse for Bangladesh, but it was faint. Unlike the final session on day 4, fight was needed by their batsman.
Luckily for Bangladesh, Nasir Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim batted sensibly, obviously not overly worried by runs, but conscious of time more than anything. Of course, that plan is fraught with danger. England tried that in the 2nd test of the 2006/07 Ashes series, and we all know what happened there..... (ah the glory days) But the young buck and even younger keeper/captain batted within themselves, Nasir bringing up his 50 before lunch, while Rahim was on 40 at the break. Red cordial must have been served at lunch, because the Bangladeshi batsman came out with a almost khamakse mindset, and were wound up like coiled springs. Disaster had struck.
The seamers had done their bit, and Misbah-Ul-Haq turned to spinners Abdur Rehmann and Saeed Ajmal, which brought Bangladesh to their knees. Nasir was beaten by a straighter one by Rehmann for 79, but all was not lost at 6 down. Number 8 Elias Sunny has a highest first class score of 176, and the captain was still there. Well, for a bit... Captain Rahim danced down to Rehmann and tried a funny looking loft down the ground, by only succeeded in top edging to mid on. How he can now talk to his fellow batsman about responsible stroke play is beyond me after that brain melt. Younis Khan took a ripper a slip, one handed and the rot had set in. The spinners had spun their web, and Bangladesh couldn’t get out. Ajaml mopped up the remaining few, and Rehmann had taken a career best 4/51, and Bangladesh were out for 234, setting Pakistan 103 to win. Bangladesh’s batting had let them down again. They’d lost 5/22.
As bad light had constantly stopped play early well before the close the 4 days previous (floodlights were turned on at 3pm), there was still hope for Bangladesh if they could pin Pakistan down, and quell the boundary shots. 24 dot balls to start helped the Tigers, before the inevitable big shot came from Taufeeq Umar, and he was gone for 3. However, strategized fast scoring from Mohammed Hafeez and Azhar Ali got Pakistan close. The light was very gloomy when Hafeez was gone for 47 in the 15th over, Pakistan 2/70. Could Bangladesh hold on? Ali and Man of the Series, Younis Khan kept going, and the total was eventually brought up ‘Dhoni-style’ by Misbah. A six to win a Test is a good way to finish. Bangladesh had only themselves to blame, although Pakistan were very good.
Man-of-the-Match, Superman Shakib bowled through the 2nd innings, but he can’t do everything. He had his chance with bat in hand late on day 4, until he was out cheaply- and one could only guess what would have happened if Bangladesh’s two most obdurate bats, Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim were still on day 5. But shoulda’s, coulda’s and mabye’s don’t win you Test matches.
The Globe Trotter
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