All we need is a little power
In a series that ends in a whitewash, one would expect there to be a considerable difference between the number of runs each side scored from their respective batting Powerplays. It makes sense that the winning team would dominate in that particular department. What one may not expect to find is that this difference would be in favor of the team on the receiving end of what in all other aspects, was a hiding.
In cricket, statistics is the most damning evidence in most arguments and the Powerplay statistics for New Zealand's tour of Bangladesh are no different. Bangladesh took two out of four, an indication of their inability to exploit them. They scored 45 runs at 4.5 runs an over and lost an astonishing total of eight wickets. In comparison, New Zealand took three batting Powerplays, scoring 102 runs in 15 overs at a rate of 6.8 while losing just 3 wickets (the rain during the first ODI prevented their own little clean sweep).
In the first match, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan were going along quite nicely when in the 39th over, the keeper holed out to long-on while trying to accelerate the run-rate. It would have been logical at this point to take the Powerplay but Bangladesh decided to wait until Mahmudullah Riyad, the last recognised batsman, also fell and New Zealand got a good look at our tail. This, by the way, was our most successful Powerplay of the series (30 for four), thanks to Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
Bangladesh again had an opportunity to take a very promising Powerplay in the third ODI, but this time other than delaying it, they didn't take it at all. After 15 overs Bangladesh were already 79 for no loss chasing only 174, the openers were in full flow and the bowlers were toiling. The next five overs went well and Bangladesh had gone on to 102 for none in 20 overs. So time to take the Powerplay and romp to a 10-wicket win? Not a chance. Both openers soon fell and while the win was comfortable, it could have been a much more impressive.
The fourth ODI is probably the most glaring example of a Powerplay gone wrong: the Tigers were cruising with Shakib and Mahmadullah, a score of 250 looked within a comfortable grasp.
The pair had been together since the 28th over but even in the 42nd, there was still no Powerplay in sight. Had it been taken at the right time, (when Shakib had energy and was middling almost every shot) Bangladesh would have gone over 241 easily. Eventually taken in the now traditional 46th over, it yielded a pathetic 15 runs, cost four wickets and the team didn't even manage to bat the full 50 overs.
Despite all that, Bangladesh kept winning matches (albeit in close finishes) and whitewashed the Kiwis 4-0. But with a massive tournament coming up, it is important that the team think-tank takes the Powerplay issue seriously.
For the first time in history, Bangladesh are going into a World Cup with a team that truly deserves to be competing with the best in the world, a team that really can compete with the best in the world. All we need is a little power. --Sameed Quasem
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