Shakib flays Lions
Bangladesh batsman Shakib Al Hasan executes a power-packed sweep during his match winning knock of 92 not out against Sri Lanka in the Grameenphone tri-series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.Photo: STAR
Nayeem Islam jumped in the air as high as he could after the right-hander lofted mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis over long on to take Bangladesh into the final of the Grameenphone tri-nation tournament.
There was gloom all around following the Tigers' 38-run defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe, but still a good number of cricket lovers turned up at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday to watch the do-or-die game in chilly weather and Shakib Al Hasan stood tall after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's breathtaking bowling to script a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka to prove that 'nothing is impossible in cricket'.
In the fog curtailed 31-overs-a-side match, Sri Lanka were shot out for 147 in 30.3 overs and the Tigers were set to achieve the target in 24.5 overs to get the bonus point to eliminate Zimbabwe. Nayeem executed a beautiful cover drive against Mendis to the fence before whacking the big six as the home side recovered from the early hiccups to complete the job in 23.5 overs that left the enthusiastic crowd electrified.
Bangladesh previously had another success against the Lankans in the limited-overs game in 2006 at Bogra but this victory emerged as a special one as it sealed them a place in a major tournament's final for the first time.
Left-hander Shakib made the opponent bowlers look hapless during his fabulous unbeaten 69-ball 92 that contained ten fours and two sixes as Bangladesh romped to 151 for five to overcome the double challenge at the big bowl in Mirpur.
It was however brave-heart cricketer Mashrafe who set the tone after the home side had decided to bowl out the opponent batsmen in overcast condition.
Bangladesh got off to a flying start when Mashrafe removed Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara with gem of deliveries for ducks in his first two overs. Dashing Sanath Jayasuriya went to the rescue, but his 64-ball 54 was not good enough for his side to put up a challenging total on the board, thanks to a brilliant fast bowling display from debutant Rubel Hossain.
Rubel made his first international game a memorable one as the right-arm paceman terrorised the Sri Lankan tail to pick up four for 33 runs while Mashrafe also captured the prize scalp of Jayasuriya to finish with 3-25.
The hosts were however in deep trouble as they yet again suffered all-too-familiar top-order collapse to see the scoreboard reading 11 for three, but captain Mohammad Ashraful brilliantly played the role of second fiddle by associating 92 runs for the fourth wicket with Shakib.
Shakib might have almost single-handedly challenged their mighty opponents, but Ashraful's 26 off 41 balls was really noteworthy.
Comments