Run-outs mark defeat

Running between the wickets has now emerged as a major headache for the Bangladesh team with three batsmen falling prey to unnecessary dismissals as South Africa cruised to an innings and 48-run win in the second Test at Centurion on Friday.
Mehrab Hossain, captain Mohammad Ashraful and Rokibul Hasan were all culpable as they fell to shocking run-outs during the second innings on the third day of the final Test at the SuperSport Park.
Another defeat inside three days was not entirely unexpected but the stupidity of the aforementioned three only added to the woes of an already brittle batting line-up.
The win meant, that despite some hiccoughs during their batting, South Africa kept up their one hundred percent record against the Tigers after they had swept the first Test by an innings and 129 runs.
Trailing by 179 runs, Bangladesh started their innings a few minutes ahead of the lunch break and were bundled out with nearly two hours of the day's play remaining for a paltry 131.
It put paid to a strong bowling effort from Shakib Al Hasan who took six wickets to nail the Proteas down for 429.
The hesitation in running has been a salient feature in this series but while only Mushfiqur Rahim had fallen victim to it in the first Test, this time it exploded out of proportion.
The value that the Tigers put on their wickets while playing a top side like South Africa was laughable at times and their display of running only validated this fact.
Ashraful unnecessarily turned for second run after pushing Morne Morkel but Hashim Amla's direct hit down at the bowler's end saw Mehrab Hossan (0) fall short of his ground as Bangladesh were reduced to 57 for four.
On the second occasion the captain made another blunder, this time accounting for himself.
Looking well settled in the middle Ashraful yet again erred when a more resolute approach was required. Though it was an excellent direct hit from Dale Steyn down at long-leg, the right-hander could have easily avoided the debacle.
Finally it was Rokibul Hasan who went for a frankly idiotic single and saw Ashwell Prince make no mistake to send him back for 28.
“It's really disappointing. I think we don't anticipate very well. The outfields here are very quick and ball travels faster to the fielder, so what can be an easy two on our grounds can get you run out over here,” said a frustrated Mohammad Salahuddin, the team's fielding coach.
“Generally we are not fast runners between wickets but we also have to know the fielders because someone like Dale Steyn has one of the most powerful throws in world cricket,” he added.
On the other hand it seemed that Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan hardly learnt anything from their previous mistakes as the left-handers once again went to chase balls well outside the off-stumps to throw away their wickets.
Tamim failed to carry on despite scoring 20, as the Chittagongian tried to cut Morkel to backward where Neil McKenzie, who had dropped the same batsman on 16 off Jacques Kallis, took an excellent diving catch.
Bowling hero Shakib continued his poor showing with the bat as the left-hander chased a short and very wide delivery of the same bowler and reached at the deep backward point fence where Makhaya Ntini took a good catch diving forward.
Zunaed Siddiqui was the other batsman got out before tea as a short delivery from Kallis kissed his gloves to reach Amla at point. Zunaed, who hit a half-century in the first innings, made 16.
Bangladesh went into lunch at 8 for one as Imrul Kayes got an edge of Ntini to reach Graeme Smith at slip and it was matter of time for the Tigers to suffer another heavy defeat against South Africa when they reduced to 95 for six at tea.