da roleta： Bangladesh underlined their pre-tournament status as one of the favourites with a four-wicket win over Pakistan
Andrew McGlashan08-Feb-2006Bangladesh 171 for 6 (Mushfiqur Rahim 46) beat Pakistan 170 (Saqibul Hasan 4-34) by four wickets
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Saqibul Hasan’s 4 for 34 earned him the Man-of-the-Match award © Cricinfo Ltd
A composed captain’s innings from Mushfiqur Rahim, which oozedinternational class, steered Bangladesh to a comfortable four-wicket winagainst a disappointing Pakistan side at the Nondescripts Ground. Rahim’s46 carried his side to the brink of victory, after Pakistan’s batting hadimploded – losing all ten wickets for 104 runs.Bangladesh, with one group match remaining against Uganda,can start thinking about the Super League stage. Pakistan, however, nowneed to beat New Zealand to keep their hopes alive of reaching the quarter-finals and will now be regretting their reckless approach earlier in the day.Mansoor Rana, the Pakistan coach, acknowledged his batsmen’s failings.”Their four spinners bowled well, but obviously I would blame my wholebatting side for playing unnecessary shots,” he said. “We were 80 for 1 and we shouldhave built some partnerships. Making the same mistakes again and again isunacceptable.”Rana, though, refused to be to downbeat, claiming his side will learn.”Sometimes we try to be perfectionists and that is wrong,” he said. “Theboys will go away, think about this, and try to put things right againstNew Zealand, which we know is now a vital game.”After speeding to 66 without loss, with positive stroke play against theseamers, there was then a collective loss of common sense from thebatsmen. It is a fine line between being aggressive and reckless – in thisinnings, Pakistan crossed firmly into the latter.Bangladesh’s four spinners – all left-armers – did the damage, claimingthe nine wickets to fall to bowlers. Familiarity obviously bred contemptamong the batting. There was no extraordinary help from the pitch, butthey flighted the ball intelligently, while the batsmen obliged bylocating the fielders.Saqibul Hasan, who claimed the Man-of-the-Match award for his fourwickets, halted the opening charge by removing Ali Khan when he slapped acatch to point. When Nasir Jamshed fell in the next over, as he attempted to loft one the over the infield, you would have thought the middle order would have learnt a lesson.However, instead of restraining themselves and building another stand – therun-rate was still above five-an-over – they continued to try and hit theball into the neighbouring SSC ground. The Bangladesh outfielding was assafe as houses, pouching each chance that came their way.The Pakistan running was not too smart either, a common trait of this tournamentso far from most teams, and the comical mid-pitch mix-up that resulted inImad Wasim’s run out summed up their innings.The senior side may have found a new level of consistency, but Pakistancricket still has the inbuilt ability to implode at any given moment.Failing to use up 41 balls of the innings was a major waste, especially asanother 30 runs could have made a significant difference in the chase.Rahim, with a Test cap at Lord’s behind him, showed them the way do it,after Bangladesh were wobbling at 88 for 4 and 119 for 5. Jamshaid Ahmedstruck twice, sustaining useful pace while bowling his ten overs straightthrough with impressive heart. However, his fielders let him down in a bigway; four went down and misfields aplenty occurred in the covers.But the key difference was the Bangladesh captain – cleverly used to bringstability to the middle-order – and he produced the most technicallycorrect innings of the match. With a straight bat he threaded the ball throughthe covers, without ever attempting to thrash the cover off it. When he opted togo over the top he did so with conviction, levelling the scores with astunning flick off his legs into the pavilion.He deserved to hit the winning runs, but picked out midwicket trying tofinish the match. That will only have been a minor disappointment.Bangladesh came into this tournament billed as one of the favourites. Theyhave, so far, managed to live up that standing and, one senses, are readyfor further challenges.