Bangladesh lost their last nine wickets for just 79 runs in
the second one-day international against New Zeaalnd at Nelson. The story of
such a pathetic and funny batting capitulation is nothing new for Bangladesh.
But it has been a part and parcel of the Bangladesh limited-overs team since
they started their journey as a Test nation.
The fans experienced such collapses two months back, two years ago and
ten or fifteen years ago.
In the past, such collapses could have been avoided by
dishing out excuses like “We are still learning” or “We have won the hearts”,
but at present, such excuses seem lame and too funny. Especially, after tasting
success for the last two years and winning against the top teams of the world,
Bangladesh have reached the level where they are well aware of how to embrace
opportunities when they come forward.
Apart from instilling fearlessness, self-belief and
confidence, the Chandika-Mashrafe partnership helped Bangladesh to understand
the value of utilizing the opportunities at its maximum best. Chandika and
Masharfe made the boys to run for the slightest of visible chances, grab them
and make the most of it. But, even the slightest of chances should not be
wasted, no matter how much hard work is needed to put.
Perhaps, at Nelson, the Bangladeshi batsmen forgot this
mantra.
Bangladesh’s bowling was better than Christchurch. Mashrafe
Bin Mortaza pitched the new ball up and moved it in and away to set jitters in
the New Zealand top order. Being inspired by their gutsy captain, Taskin Ahmed
and the debutante, Subashis Roy, delivered the ideal spells to keep the home
team’s batsmen under pressure.
New Zealand were all out for 251 in 50 overs and on such a
good batting wicket, Bangladesh were expected to chase this total down without
making the weather heavy.
Bangladesh collpased in a mind-boggling manner at Nelson
A rush of blood ended Tamim Iqbal’s stay at the wicket.
Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman were resolute enough and grafted a 75-run
partnership for the second-wicket. In the last ball of 23rd over, disaster
struck as an ugly mix up in the middle of the pitch resulted in a comical run
out of Sabbir Rahman.
A full-and-fast yorker on the offstump by Lockie Ferguson
added more woes to Mahmudullah’s back-to-back failures in the innings and
entered Kane Williamson into the scene, whose part-time, gentle offspin bowling
was not expected to pose a threat to this Bangladeshi batting line-up, engulfed
wickets at regular intervals to surprise even his ardent followers.
Kane must thank the poor shot selection of the Bangladesh
batsmen who seemed to have come under pressure for no reasons.
Shakib Al Hasan, the most experienced and consistent
performer in the Bangladesh team, executed a loose shot against a half-tracker
as if he was playing gully cricket and Mosaddek Hossain attempted to clear
mid-off unnecessarily and scripted a catch to the point fielder as if he was
about to catch a train.
From nowhere Bangladesh were five wickets down in a quick
succession and then, Imrul Kayes, the set batsman, chased a widish length ball
and skewed a catch to gully to complete the story of an absolute comically ugly
collapse.
At 105 for 1, Bangladesh were crusing . Rather than getting
panicked, the visitors were needed to rotate the strike more. Attempting big
shots before getting set at the wicket hardly can bring anything good. While
chasing totals on any surfaces, maneuvering the strike matters very much.
Investing time and energy on big shots work as a catalyst to dish out
collapses.
The stability of Mushfiqur Rahim was missed heavily at
Nelson in the second ODI. His injury had been a big blow for Bangladesh and it
is understandable, replacing Mushfiq’s batting expertise will not be easy. But
that doesn’t mean, Bangladesh don’t have the players to take the responsibility
with utmost importance whenever a senior player gets injured.
Sense and sensibility should have prevailed among the senior
and junior members while batting.
Bangladesh squandered a golden opportunity at Nelson.
According to Milton Berle, “If opportunity doesn’t knock,
build a door” and when opportunity knocks at your doors, never let fears hold
you back, but open the door and hug the opportunity that has come forth. Be it in life or sports, everyday and every
game is the place of a new opportunity. The best way to utilize the
opportunities, is by getting better and take well-thought measures so that they
don’t go wasted.
But not everyone can’t recognize the opportunities which
come ahead, while some, simply waste them in the most disgusting manner.
Opportunities are lost either by sheer ignorance, idleness or stupidity. The
way, Bangladesh batsmen blew away the opportunity at Nelson to level the
series, was nothing but an exhibition of brain-freeze and, it seems, Bangladesh
start to feel the pressure whenever they discover themselves in a better
position.
A victory would have been helpful to boost the morale of the
team, but such defeats should not create self-doubts. Otherwise, it will not
take time to lose the achieved momentum and confidence for a brief period.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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