Shakib, Shahadat humiliates Extra-Ordinary(?) India
Saleque Sufi
January 17, 2010, 10:13 pm
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Melbourne, January 17, 2010 (www.crickettomorrow.com)
India – Bangladesh 1st Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Chittagong. Shakib Won the Toss and Put India into Bat.
India 213/8 in 45 overs at Stumps, day 1 [Sehwag 52, Sachin 76 *, Shakib 4/52, Sahahdat 4/51]
Injured tigers made feast of Indian bulls on the first day of 1st test of India –Bangladesh two match test series at Jahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium, Chittagong. The high voltage Indian batting was dimmed by the excellent pace-spin combination of Shakib and Rajeev. Indians were 213/8 when bad light stopped play. With a little bit of luck India could have been all out. Possibly strong Indian batting was not so much disgraced like this in the recent past. Brave Bangladeshis gave stunning response to Indian Captain Sehwag’s impolite statement.
Indian Captain MS Dhoni developed back trouble and opted out of the 1st test at the last moment. Vice Captain Sehwag naturally took over. Cricket world knows India is number one Test side according to ICC ranking. Cricket world also knows Bangladesh is the emerging tiger. In ODI Bangladesh already created some major sensations. Bangladesh knocked India out of last world cup and also beat favourite South Africa. With a little bit of luck Bangladesh could have won against strong Australia in test at Dhaka and against Pakistan at Multan. The team has Shakib al Hasan, according to neutral specialists, the best ODI all rounder of World Cricket at the moment. There are some maturing world talent Tamim, Musfiqur, Riad, Rajeev. India is a visiting team to Bangladesh. Yet Sehwag sounded ugly when in pre match statement he said “Bangladesh is an ordinary test team. It does not have bowlers to pick 20 Indian Wickets”.
Tigers got hurt. But Tiger Captain kept his cool saying, "We will respond in the match." Sehwag lost the toss but Shakib threw challenge to India to bat. By tea India was sweating and toiling at 160/6 and by stumps they were 213/8. Best batting line up surrendered to brilliant Bangladeshi bowling and fielding. Dadagiri of Sehwag got a big slap from Sober Shakib.
Brave tiger captain winning the toss put India to bat ignoring their batting might. Free flowing Sehwag and talented Gambhir started in their gay cavalier fashion in prelaunch session. Only 13 overs could be bowled due to late start. In which 63 runs were posted.
But after lunch very high quality seam and spin bowling by Shahadat Rajeev and Shakib (the best cricketer of 2009) struck gold. Shakib struck the first blow in the very second over after lunch. Sehwag in the first over after lunch of Rajeev raced to 50 striking three boundaries. But after that it was all Bangladesh, all along!
Ball 14.6: Shakib Al Hasan intelligently bowled a little short on his leg stump to Sehwag went back to the leg side and pushed the ball in the air to Tamim at short extra cover, stationed there for this very shot. Shakib dealt the knock out punch on Sehwag. He scored 52 in 51 balls.
Rajeev was swinging and bouncing since morning. Het induced Gambhir to nick one behind to Mushfique.
Ball 15.2: Shahadat to Gambhir, edged and was smartly taken! Gambhir got sucked in by one that pitched short of a length and sat up more than anticipated, but truth be told he had no business chasing it and ended up snicking a rising catch to the wicketkeeper, cuing wild celebrations from Bangladesh.
These two blows in successive overs gave tigers the taste of blood. Shahadat started breathing fire. Shakib’s spin started coiling like Cobra.
17.4: Shahadat Hossain cleaned up Dravid. Indian wall fell to Tigers rocket fire. Shahadat pitched much fuller, searching for that yorker length, and Dravid played all over it as he looked to work it the on side
Indian batting was struck by a mini Tsunami. From 0/79 it went crushing to 85/3 – Sehwag, Gambhir and Dravid were perished in the wink of an eye. Laxman and Yuvraj could not stem the slide. In brilliant spell of aggressive left arm spin Shakib foxed both.
28.3 Overs Laxman, was foxed by Shakib – Mushfique combination. He was gone to smart work from Mushfiqur behind the stumps! Shakib tossed it up on middle and leg and beat Laxman in the flight, he skipped out and tried to flick the ball but got an inside edge onto the pads, then lost balance after playing the loose shot and in that time Mushfiqur picked up the rolling ball and broke the sticks.
38.5 Overs: Shakib floated a full toss, Yuvraj Singh, OUT, a very soft dismissal, full toss lobbed straight to mid-on, he chipped down the track on seeing the flight but could not hit it with any conviction, and hardly got the desired elevation and it was a dolly for Rubel.
India slumped to 5/149. Kartik who replaced Dhoni joined Sachin who was watching journey back to pavilion of Indian Batsmen. Kartik did not last long. Shakib brought back Shahadat and the change immediately worked.
39.3 Over: Shahadat swung the ball away and pitched it up outside off, induced Kartik to go for the spooned drive, he chipped it low and Rakibul timed his dive really well at gully and pulled off inches off the turf. India 6/150.
Amit Misra Joined Sachin. India went to tea at 6/160. Play after tea did not continue long. Stumps was drawn early due to bad light. But in between Bangladesh picked two more wickets. Misra fell LBW to Shahadat and Zaheer Khan was picked up by Shakib. India was 8/209. Only great Sachin was ploughing in the sand. He could be gone also. Tendulkar in an attempt to pull Shahadat top edged. But over exuberance of Bangladeshi fielders - three going for one catch messed it up. Sachin remained unconquered to fight another day. Ishant Sharma also survived a very confident LBW which on TV replay looked plumb in front.
It does not matter where this test ends up. Bengal Tigers have already slaughtered Indian bulls. Sehwag will possibly learn a bitter lesson and future will be guarded in making comments about opponents.
Bangladesh had excellent first day. They should clean Indian tell early tomorrow. There is no worry. Bangladesh can bat well against this Indian attack. If they play to potential scoring 300+ will not be a difficult task. Indians will bounce back in full cylinders. Bangladesh has already rubbed Indian pride.
January 17, 2010, 10:13 pm
