Sakib shines in Tigers win

Bangladesh captain Sakib al Hasan (R) acknowledges the crowd after scoring his century against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

Shakib Al Hasan starred with a delightfully aggressive ton in Bangladesh's second straight win in the five-match series against Zimbabwe. Tamim Iqbal laid the platform with a patient half-century before Shakib took over to charge Bangladesh to their highest ODI score. Zimbabwe tried gamely, courtesy fine half-centuries from Charles Coventry and Sean Williams, but the 321-run target proved beyond their reach.

Bangladesh's strategy was simple: keep a tight line and wait for the pressure of the steep target to start telling on the batsmen. And it worked. Coventry provided some momentum to the chase by counterattacking after the early wickets. There was a very skilful hit over extra-cover against Syed Rasel and couple of big sixes against the offspinner Naeem Islam but he fell, trying to keep pace with the required run rate.

Post Coventry's exit, Williams played a gem of a cameo, filled with improvisations, but he too became a victim of the run-rate. Sean, who notched up his highest ODI score, not only used his feet well against the spinners but also repeatedly put the reverse sweep to good effect to upset the rhythm of the bowlers. He ran hard between the wickets and kept picking singles and twos to keep the scorecard moving. Near the end of the chase, he took more risks, charging out to the seamers as well. He sashayed down the track and heaved Nazmul Hossain to the cowcorner and slapped him over covers but fell, failing to clear long-on. Elton Chigumbura biffed around in the end to raise hopes but could only succeed in reducing the margin of the loss.

Bangladesh's win was set up by their batsmen led by Shakib, who provided momentum with an imposing knock. Bangladesh were 108 for 1 in 25 overs but Shakib ensured that they finished strongly.

The feature of his innings was his skill in repeatedly picking the gaps: there were quite a few hits over extra cover, a few to the straight boundary and many swings to midwicket. He started carefully, dealing in singles and twos to reach 15, before breaking free with two pulled boundaries. The explosion started in the 38th over, bowled by the part-time spinner Williams, with Shakib, who was denied the services of a runner just prior to the over, swinging twice over midwicket boundary. He went on to crash Ray Price to the straight boundary before lifting Prosper Utseya over long-off and twice over extra-cover as he made full use of the batting Powerplay.

He was aided by some poor fielding and was dropped twice in the inner circle: when he was on 59, Stuart Matsikenyeri spilled a sitter at midwicket off an attempted reverse-sweep against Utseya and when he was on 71, Price dropped another off a top-edged paddle-sweep.

Shakib went on the rampage after the twin drops. He looted 19 runs, with the help of three boundaries that included a stunning six over long-off, off the 44th over bowled by Chamu Chibhabha. He brought up the hundred in 63 balls and celebrated it with a cheeky scoop shot off Ed Rainsford before he was run out going for the third run after Mushfiqur Rahim had slashed to deep point. Rahim sought to make amends for his mistake with some big hitting in the end to push Bangladesh well past 300.

The platform was laid earlier in the day by Tamim, who forged a more staid partnership with Zunaed Siddiqui at the top of the order. Only four fours came in the first fifteen overs and only one boundary was hit in the air. It not only reflected the intent of the batsmen but also the disciplined lines and length of the new-ball bowlers Elton Chigumbura and Rainsford. If there was to be any criticism, it has to be said that they perhaps strayed to the middle and leg line a touch too often against Tamim, which shows up in his wagon wheel: Tamim picked 48 runs on the on side.

For their part, the batsmen were absolutely focused on playing themselves in before going for their shots. Things were looking good when Siddiqui was run out. He pushed Utseya, who brought himself on in the 11th over, to the left of short midwicket, was caught in a yes-no situation with Tamim and couldn't get back to his crease in time. Tamim, himself, was run out soon in a comical fashion. He had missed to connect a leg-side delivery but was stranded in the middle due to a faulty call from Shakib and was easily run out by the keeper. However, it didn't prove to be a major set back as Shakib set the stadium ablaze with his power-hitting.

Tigers prey on the Lions - Ashraful Star of The Show

It couldn't have been any more emphatic for the Tigers. An eight-wicket victory to start the five-match series against Zimbabwe at their own backyard just lighted up the Grameenphone Cup at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday.

Carrying their form and confidence from the Caribbean and not distracted by the shock loss in the practice match, Bangladesh made a statement loud and clear, we are here to win.

And who is better to lead the way than their most successful batsman, Mohammad Ashraful? Once again he led Bangladesh to their victory with a magnificent unbeaten century, one that was full of class, temperament, cleverness and audacity.

Ashraful hammered a run-a-ball 103 as Bangladesh chased down a modest Zimbabwe total of 207 with a lavish 15.3 overs to spare. Ashraful, who struck a dozen boundaries and a couple of sixes, completed his third hundred by running down a ball to the third-man boundary. His bout with left-arm spinner Raymond Price was the highlight of an otherwise one-sided match. Understandably irked after being taunted by the bowler, Ashraful hit back by smashing a six followed by three successive fours in the 15th over that produced 19 runs.

It all started with Tamim Iqbal and Zunaed Siddiqui getting the innings off to a flyer on a pitch that lived up to its reputation as a belter. Tamim thrashed the second ball of the innings from Elton Chigumbura through point for four followed by a splendid straight drive for the same result. His opening partner Zunaed provided even harsher treatment to the other bowler, Chamu Chibhaba, spanking him for three boundaries in different directions. The bowler had the last laugh though, as Zunaed played one drive too many, this time going straight to the hands of Graeme Cremer at mid-off. Bangladesh had raced to 30 in four overs by then, 28 of those coming in boundaries and Zunaed contributing 21 off only 12 balls.

Zimbabwe skipper Prosper Utseya was quick to read the signs and brought himself on as early as the sixth over in a bid to stem the flow of runs. Ashraful was cautious to start, probably not in form as yet, left a few deliveries outside the off-stump and dealt with the spin carefully. But he was soon to join the act as he slashed two slightly wide deliveries from Utseya through point for back-to-back boundaries. Both batsmen were looking at ease with the bowling as they maintained a steady run-rate of six through the first two powerplays. Zimbabwe's most experienced bowler Price was taken to task by Ashraful as the spinner was dispensed to all parts of the ground including a huge six over long-on. Both the batsmen soon got to their fifties and started to milk in the boundaries without showing much respect to any of the bowlers. Utseya tried out all his options, but no one seemed to make any impact on the scoring rate as the Tigers raced towards the target. Tamim's late dismissal brought a few cheers from the crowd and a few smiles on the Zimbabwe players, but was too little to bring in any decisive turnaround for the home team. Ashraful inserted his total command over this benign attack and led the visitors to a most convincing victory, beating their bitter rivals by eight wickets and 15 overs left.

Earlier, having won the toss and electing to bowl first on a wicket with some grass that surely had some assistance for the pacemen early on. And the pacers didn't take long to reward their skipper.

Syed Rasel, the left arm seamer with very little pace, used the early moisture expertly and beat opener Hamilton Masakadza a couple of times before the batsman went after a wide ball only to nick it to keeper Mushfiqur Rahim. The other opener Mark Vermeulen, back after a long time in the wilderness, would go on to play a commanding knock.

Along with Rasel, other pacer Nazmul Hossain kept the batsmen quiet for most part, occasionally faltering in line and length and being duly punished for. The second wicket to fall was Chibhaba having scored only 7 runs. Nazmul bowled a back of a length delivery outside off-stump, and the batsman got a thin edge to the keeper with the score on 25.

It was in the 13th over that spin was introduced as captain Shakib Al Hasan brought himself into the attack and immediately made some impact as he had a loud appeal against Vermeulen for lbw only to be tuned down by the umpire. Enamul Haque was brought in at the other end.

Shakib was unlucky again a few overs later as Vermeulen swung one high over midwicket but the fielder (Nazmul) under that one, having all the time in the world, spilled it in the end. That proved to be a costly mistake. Shakib however got the reward for his consistent line and length when he trapped Brendan Taylor in front of the wicket. The batsman might consider himself a bit unlucky as replays showed that he got a thin inside edge as he defended, and he had got a massive stride in as well.

Vermeulen, at the other end, was batting quite comfortably, no sign of rustiness from his long absence from international cricket. He milked deliveries on all parts and hit boundaries occasionally as he reached his 50 off just 73 deliveries.

Chris Coventry came in and was looking ominous as he hit a boundary and a six off to race off to 19 before Shakib made a surprising change to bring on Ashraful who with his very first delivery lured the batsman to play a big shot towards mid-wicket, but he top-edged it and Mahmudullah took a well-judged catch just within the rope.

The later batsmen came in and played a few lusty blows but eventually were skittled by Nazmul who outshone others taking three wickets for 29 in 6.5 overs. Once looking good for a 230-plus score, the Zimbabweans tottered to the modest total before being all out in the 48th over.

Historic Whitewash

Bangladesh players along with officials celebrate winning the third and final one-day international against the West Indies at Warner Park in Bassterre on Friday. Bangladesh won the match by three wickets to take the series 3-0.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan poses with the winners' trophy after the third and final one-day international against the West Indies at Warner Park in St Kitts on Friday.

All-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad drives the ball on the off-side during his match-winning knock of 51 not out in the third and final one-dayer against the West Indies at Warner Park in St Kitts. Bangladesh won the match by three wickets and the series 3-0.


Tamim Iqbal (L) completes a magnificent diving catch while his opening partner Zunaed Siddiqui drives Bangladesh to a position of strength during the third and final one-day international against the West Indies at Warner Park in St Kitts on Friday. Tamim struck a brisk 30 while Zunaed scored a measured 55 to lay the foundation of a three-wicket win.

West Indies ODI series whitewashed by Tigers

Half-centuries from Junaid Siddique and Mahmudullah led Bangladesh to a three-wicket victory, and a 3-0 cleansweep of the one-day international series over West Indies early today. Siddique struck six fours in 55 from 73 balls, and Mahmudullah, who was named man-of-the-match, hit two fours and one six in an unbeaten 51 from 70 balls to help Bangladesh overhaul a victory target of 249 in the third and final ODI at Warner Park. Mahmudullah made sure of victory when he flicked a delivery from Kemar Roach through square leg.

Bangladesh won the opening match in Dominica last Sunday by 52 runs, and the second match at the same venue on Tuesday by three wickets. Their ODI series victory followed a cleansweep of the preceding two-Test series against a home side decimated by a player boycott.

"After winning the Test series, we were looking forward to this ODI series," said Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan. "It was a total team effort. Every time the team was under pressure, someone was able to put their hands up and do the job. This success in the Caribbean will help to take us to the next level."

Bangladesh dismissed West Indies for 248 in 47.4 overs, after the home team decided to bat. Siddique and fellow opener Tamim Iqbal set Bangladesh on their way with a stand of 54 for the first wicket. But they slid to 133 for five in the 28th over before Mahmudullah joined Mushfiqur Rahim and added 50 for the sixth wicket. It however, took a stand of 49 for the seventh wicket between Mahmudullah and Naeem Islam which virtually pushed the Tigers over the threshold. Earlier, Mahmudullah, bowling his off-spin, along with fast-medium bowler Mahbubul Alam, and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak all captured two wickets.

The Bangladesh bowlers maintained the pressure throughout, and several West Indies batsmen got starts. Andre Fletcher led the way with 52 from 42 balls, captain Floyd Reifer and his deputy Darren Sammy made 40 apiece.

"I think throughout the series we needed to build more and better partnerships when we were batting," said Reifer. "Whenever we seem to be building partnerships, the guys always seem to be getting out at the wrong time. They needed to carry on at crucial stages in the game." He added: "But we had a young, inexperienced team. We have got to continue to play hard, keep talking more about the game, and looking back at our mistakes.


"All the games were very close, and it was just that we kept making crucial mistakes at crucial times." Bangladesh restricted West Indies to 10 for two in the fourth over before Dowlin and Andre Fletcher put on 76 for the third wicket. Fletcher reached his 50 from 40 balls, when he slogged Abdur Razzak over mid-wicket for his eighth four in the 14th over, after he had taken a four and a six off the third and fourth balls of the same over. Bangladesh then made West Indies wobble on 124 for five in the 28th over, but were revived when Reifer and Sammy added 64 before they were among a cluster of wickets that fell in the last 15 overs.

Bangladesh wins ODI series chasing highest run

When West Indies put up 274 runs on the board during the 2nd ODI at Windsor Park in Dominica, not many in Bangladesh were convinced that the Tigers would be able to chase down the target. It was not just that it was something Bangladesh had not successfully chased before (their highest run-chase was 250 against Australia in Cardiff in 2005), but also the past records of the batters that often succumbed to self-destructed pressure, notwithstanding the strength of the opponents, that led to that belief.

Every time they step on the field, Bangladesh seem to be making history. After having beaten West Indies for the first time in Tests and ODIs, they sealed their first ODI series win against the hosts on Tuesday. More importantly, this win came by way of their highest successful chase in the limited-overs format, reaching the requisite 275 with six balls to spare.

At the centre of the accomplishment once again was Shakib Al Hasan, pulling West Indies back from a flying start, and then seeing his team through a tricky chase with a calm 65. Mohammad Ashraful, who got to back-to-back fifties for the first time since 2006, set up the Bangladesh reply after the openers struggled on a sluggish pitch that made it difficult to stroke the ball cleanly. The Shakib-Ashraful combination outdid an exceptional effort from Travis Dowlin, whose maiden international century lifted a fledgling West Indies to a fighting total.

Ashraful and Shakib came together after a sensible third-wicket partnership between Ashraful and Rokibul Hasan had ended, thanks to the pressure created by a slow pitch and tight bowling. Nevertheless, they had added 52 after the openers fell in a quick succession.

It was here that Ashraful took the lead, not letting the pressure mount. He first made room and slashed Bernard in the 28th over for the first boundary in 70 balls. When Rawl Lewis replaced Bernard in the next over, Ashraful lofted him over long-off for a six, bringing up his second fifty in three days. Shakib joined him in that charge, sweeping both Lewis and Bernard over midwicket. Those three overs brought Bangladesh 32 runs, and also brought down the asking-rate to less than six.

When Ashraful went for another six off Lewis, he put his team in a tricky state again, holing out to long-off. Until then, his 77-ball 64 had been well-paced, and he had added 74 with Shakib in 63 deliveries. But with 85 still required, Shakib had a major role to play. The boundaries were not easy to come -- even Lewis negated the big sweep with googlies and straighter ones -- but Shakib ran purposefully. He had to run all but six of his last 50 runs, but hardly did he ever let the scoring-rate fall.

During the match, the cameras panned to a spectator reading a magazine article on Shakib, titled the "Ice Man". Shakib indeed played like one, but needed some luck on his side. With 71 required off 60, Shakib tried to hit Lewis out of the ground, only skying it to land perfectly between cover and long-off, which also resulted in a collision between Darren Sammy and Bernard. That shot also took Shakib to his half-century, kicking off a spell of ordinary cricket from both sides.

With 56 needed off the last eight overs, Shakib called for the batting Powerplay, and Roach immediately threatened to finish the match in a hurry. Even before he could do that, Floyd Reifer almost let him bowl with five fielders outside the circle. Roach started with a half-volley and a fulltoss both hit for boundaries, before bowling his second beamer of the match to be removed from the attack. What's more, Shakib deposited it for a six.

Now it was the Ice Man's turn to falter with the match almost pocketed. He swung across the line to Sammy, getting out with 37 needed off 41. Three wides came in the next two overs before Bangladesh contributed their bit to the chaos. Devon Thomas, the designated wicketkeeper, had to bowl what was left of Roach's overs, and Mahmudullah gifted his second delivery with a leading edge. Riefer brought the fine leg up, Thomas saw two of his straight deliveries being punished and bowled two off-side wides to compensate. Mushfiqur returned the favour by hitting a fulltoss straight to cover. During that surreal period, the only question was which team wanted to lose more badly.

An overthrow here, an edge there, and Bangladesh reached the series win with an outside-edged boundary by Abdur Razzak. During this period of drama, the turnaround earlier in the day was almost forgotten. For the majority of the first innings, both Dowlin and West Indies seemed to struggle to get the ball off the square against the spinners. West Indies had huffed and puffed their way to 176 for 4 in 40 overs, struggling to combat the grip and the turn. Dowlin's story was no different -- he took 88 deliveries to reach his fifty and had trouble with his running between the wickets, too.

But with the Powerplay taken in the 41st over, things changed. Dowlin slog-swept the spinners with vengeance, getting close to the pitch every time, and hitting to long-on, cow corner, midwicket, square leg, et al. By the end of the Powerplay, West Indies had reached 216 for 5, and Dowlin 87 off 105 deliveries. In the next five overs, Dowlin took little time to reach his maiden century, and Lewis and Sammy made sure West Indies finished with 98 runs in their last ten overs. In the end, though, they were to be second-best.

Bangladesh wins 1st ODI against West Indies, Razzak man of the match

Abdur Razzak made a triumphant return to the Bangladesh side when he helped the Tigers win the opening one-day international against West Indies by 52 runs on Sunday.

Razzak, who was prevented from bowling in international cricket in December 2008 due to a suspect action before having his suspension lifted in March, opened the bowling and took four wickets for 39 runs as Bangladesh defended a target of 247 at international cricket's newest venue of Windsor Park.

"I was not surprised when the captain gave me the new ball, especially the way the pitches have been playing in the Caribbean during this series," said Razzak. "When I played in the Caribbean in the 2007 World Cup, I also used the new ball, so it's normal. "But this was important for me. I was out of the team for eight months, and now I am back in the side, I am looking to do well."

The victory gives Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with the second ODI scheduled for the same venue on Tuesday, and the final ODI on Friday at Warner Park in St. Kitts.

Razzak again exposed the West Indies' frailty to spin bowling, after Bangladesh, sent in to bat, were restricted to 246 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs.

Mohammad Ashraful hit the top score of 57 and captain Shakib Al Hasan stroked 54 to lead the Bangladesh batting, despite Kemar Roach taking a career-best five wickets for 44 runs. But Razzak, who did not play in his team's successful Test series, then gave Bangladesh a boost, when he trapped West Indies opener Dale Richards lbw for one in the second over.

Bangladesh continued to build the pressure, particularly with their spin bowlers operating from very early, and West Indies slumped to 42 for four in the 12th over. Devon Smith and Dave Bernard Jr added 78 for the fifth wicket to stabilise West Indies.

But Shakib, bowling his left-arm spin, made the breakthrough in the 29th over, when he trapped Smith lbw for the top score of 65. Naeem Islam scalped Bernard caught at deep mid-wicket for 38 three overs later to leave West Indies 130 for six.

Rawl Lewis then put on 41 with Darren Sammy for the seventh wicket before Rubel Hossain bowled him for 21 in the 40th over. Bangladesh found little or no resistance from the remaining West Indies batsmen, although Sammy got 28 before Razzak trapped him lbw in the 42nd over.
"We lost the game with our batting," said West Indies captain Floyd Reifer.

"We didn't get the start we wanted from the top, and this is something that is worrying us at the moment. "We are not getting enough partnerships at the top of the innings. We are quite happy with the balance of the team."

Earlier, Ashraful held the Tigers' top-order together, and when he was dismissed, Shakib kept his nerve to take advantage of the powerplay in the closing overs to help Bangladesh post their highest total against West Indies.

Shakib said: "We were always confident with the final total we posted because we knew the pitch was playing a little slowly and we had four spinners in our side. "I have been surprised by the nature of the pitches in the Caribbean. I thought they would have had more bounce and pace. But it suited our spinners, and Razzak came back into the side, bowled well, and did a good job for us."

Bangladesh wins first-ever away Test series

Bangladesh stand-in captain Shakib Al Hasan (L) sprints into history in dashing style while his partner in a match-winning fourth wicket stand Rokibul Hasan (R) plays a delicate cut shot on the fourth day of the second Test against the West Indies at the National Stadium in Grenada on Monday.

The historic first-ever away Test series victory of the national cricket team against the West Indies was the talk of the sports arena on Tuesday as everyone greeted the Tigers for their brilliant success in the Caribbean.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Sina ibn Jamali (L) is having a sweet festival with the board officials and national team sponsor Grameenphone's chief communications officer Rubaba Dowla (R) while celebrating Tigers' first-ever away series triumph at the BCB's Sher-e-Bangla Stadium headquarters yesterday.

Tigers win 1st away Test

Bangladeshi cricketers celebrate their victory at the end of the final day of the first Test match between West Indies and Bangladesh at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent.