Men Of Steel

Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan had had a quiet time in the first four matches of this World Cup. His economy rate of 4.89 might have done justice to his name, but not the number of wickets, which was only three. But it all changed after a brilliant performance against New Zealand in Hamilton yesterday, when he took 4 for 55. There was not much there for the spinners, as Daniel Vettori's figures of one for 42 earlier in the day would suggest. But with the captain's armband on, Shakib knew he had to deliver with the ball and brought himself on to open the bowling. The left-arm spinner removed dangerous Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson early in the innings with two flighted deliveries, enticing them to playing big shots. The ace all-rounder later came back to remove centurion Martin Guptill and Luke Ronchi to keep Bangladesh in the game.