The result of the first ODI England and Bangladesh left the
Bangladeshi cricket fraternity doleful and disquieted. Despite being in a very
commendable position, Bangladesh collapsed in a dramatic fashion and thus,
their ability to handle pressure against top sides came under scrutiny.
Even Mashrafe Mortaza’s poor shot against Adil Rashid in
such a crucial stage of the match was not taken lightly.
In the past, after such defeats, Bangladesh failed to
regroup and lost the rest of the matches in a disgraceful manner. Earlier, they
lacked a torch bearer and leader to lift their spirit . A leader who would lead
from the front and make his team realise the importance of not giving up, no
matter how tough the challenge is.
Thankfully, Bangladesh is blessed with a leader in Mashrafe
Mortaza who is capable of arresting frustration and depression after such
heartbreaks, and bring the team back on track.
Mortaza was hurt after the defeat in the first ODI and so
was the whole team. More often, such defeats hamper the temperament of the team
as a whole and it is during such situations that the role of a leader becomes
very important.
Poor batting at the top
Bangladesh
were sent in to bat by Jos Buttler in the second ODI on a Mirpur track which
was not a batting friendly one. It had bounce and movement early on and the
Bangladeshi batting line-up failed to counter the English bowlers who had their
tails up, and cut short the stay of the batsmen at the crease.
Composure
was needed more than wristy stroke-play, but the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Imrul
Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan focused more on
dominating the English bowlers and left Bangladesh in tatters at 113 for 5.
Mahmudullah
Riyad and Mosaddek Hossain stitched a partnership of 48 runs for the sixth
wicket to drag Bangladesh from the mud, but as soon as the partnership was
broken, the Bangladesh innings lost their way again.
A captain’s innings with the bat by
Mortaza
The
captain came out to bat at number nine and joined Nasir Hossain – the man whose
inclusion in the team was the matter of debate before the second ODI – at the
crease. Eight more overs were remaining and it was very important for one of
the tailenders to give the Bangladesh innings the final push which was missing
in the first ODI.
Mortaza
took up the responsibility to take Bangladesh to the end and shield Nasir as he
was under pressure. There was no time for the batsmen to get set or occupy the
crease, and the captain was up to the task – rotating the strike and executing
risky strokes, some of which were ugly to watch, but productive in nature.
He
was unorthodox with the bat, which proved to work well as it became hard for
the English captain to adjust his fielders, while the bowlers were left in
doubt about the line and length to bowl.
It
was a rousing display of batsmanship and a captain’s determination to prove
those wrong who questioned his team’s poor temperament against the top teams.
At the crease, he was a brute force and a symbol of boldness.
His
lively presence gave his batting partner Nasir, assurance to hold one end, to
swell the Bangladeshi total.
Bangladesh
managed to post 238 for 8 in 50 overs from a hapless 169 for 7.
Mortaza
smashed 44 off 29 balls.
Picked crucial wickets with the ball
But
Mash was not finished yet.
He
was vital with the ball in his hand as he picked crucial wickets to lead his
team to victory.
In
his first spell, he outclassed three English batsmen. He pitched the ball full
and back of a length, which baffled the English top order. And when Adil Rashid
and Jake Ball cranked up the tension by stitching together a tenth wicket
partnership, he brought himself on to bowl and negated the possibility of yet
another heartbreak.
Meanwhile,
as a captain, he was not just very good, but imaginative and thoughtful as
well. His decision to open the bowling with Shakib, was nothing but a product
of thoughtful captaincy. He knew the importance of early breakthroughs while
defending such totals and decided to engage two strike bowlers from both ends –
Himself and Shakib.
And
his idea struck gold.
He
was well aware of Taskin’s struggle and the lack of a frontline spinner which
meant that he and Shakib had to bowl intelligently.
He
rarely used two spinners from both ends, but used a pace bowler and spinner in
tandem to slow down the runs scored by the English batsmen. His field settings
were always attacking and gave the impression that a wicket was always around
the corner.
A
captain’s performance, Mortaza batted superbly, bowled brilliantly and led his
team from the front.
Note: This article was published at Sportskeeda on 10/10/2016 England defeated by Mashrafe Mortaza's all-round heroics at Mirpur
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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