Bangladesh v New Zealand - The touch of the master

Daniel Vettori said before the start of the series that Shakib Al Hasan will be the main threat for the Kiwis and after the first one-day international at Mirpur Vettori’s pre-match prognostications seems to have proved true. Even Shakib is one up in the battle for the best all-rounder with his fellow competitor Daniel Vettori.

Shakib with the bat was dashing while with the ball he was teasing and menacing. With the willow he unleashed a range of shots in the batting Powerplay to lift Bangladesh to a competitive position. He then tormented the visitors with the ball - scalping four crucial wickets including a double-strike in the 15th over to remove the dangerous Brendon McCullum and Grant Elliott. He then returned to bowl a brilliant penultimate over in the rain-curtailed run chase, giving away just three runs and claiming the wicket of Nathan McCullum to give his side a much needed 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.

Bangladesh’s hopes of defending a small total of 229 took a serious dent when they lost their strike bowler and captain Mashrafe Mortaza to a sprained ankle after just one over. Shakib then took over the captaincy and even as the captain he was astute in setting the field according to the bowling and shifting his bowlers according to the demand of the situation.  

Mirpur had seen the touch of the master. Shakib was at his sublime best. Shakib is looking in superb form. It is expected that he will continue this rich-vein of form in the upcoming matches.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar