Mominul spares Bangladeshs blushes
Sports Reporter
Mominul Haque was the saviour of Bangladesh on day three as he scored an invaluable 77 runs to help Bangladesh avoid the follow-on that looked inevitable at one phase. And in doing so, he became the highest Test scorer by a Bangladeshi batsman in South African soil, eclipsing the record of Al Shahriar Rokons 71 in 2002. Mominuls half-century, his 12th overall was only the fifth fifty plus knock by Bangladeshi batsmen in South Africa. Mahmudullah later joined in the list as the sixth Bangladeshi batsman with 66, his 14th half-century.
The diminutive man is obviously displeased of not scoring his fifth century which could have been the first century by any Bangladeshi in South African backyard but what would definitely give him satisfaction is that he replied his critics in befitting way. Scoring runs against a quality bowling attack in a tough condition of the team is not a matter of a joke.
By doing so Mominul Haque literally slapped hard to his critics who always says that he is not good enough to deal with the short balls, a logic which was used against him to axe from the ODI side. That very logic strategically is being used again repeatedly to drop him from the Test side also. In addition another shortcoming of not playing well the off-spin is discovered.
The lad from Coxs Bazar had not to face off-spinner since South Africa employed a left arm spinner in Keshav Maharaj. But he had to deal with a barrage of short balls from the likes of Morke Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier who consistently clocked over 140 km. With due respect to the other batsmen, everyone was somewhat in discomfort to negotiate the short stuffs, even the another half-centurion Mahmdullah Riyad was entirely vulnerable but Mominul looked untroubled throughout his innings, making it clear, the blame that was used to drop him ODI side and finally two Test matches in the year was entirely wrong one.
After his ODI career is effectively ended, abruptly though, he was considered as Test batsman just. But his longer version career is also believed to be ended when he was dropped from the team during the Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year. Later he was not considered in the squad of Bangladesh in home Test series against Australia, leading to a huge controversy. He was finally got a place in the team because of the eye infection of Mosaddek Hossain Saikat.
In the first Test against Australia, he was not in the final XI but got a place in the second Test in which he had to bat in NO.8 position in the second innings of the Test. It indicated that he might well be axed from the Test squad also because before being dropped from the ODI side he had to bat in NO. 8 position. However the outrage by the fans and media prompted the team management to consider him for the series against South Africa and he got his favourite No. 3 position back.
The series however is believed to be considered his last unless he gets run here. It was a pressure back of the mind and when he was in the crease, he saw batsmen like Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal being dismissed before Bangladesh reached in any safe zone. Still he showed a steely resolve to challenge the South African bowlers. He finally became successful though the dismissal was soft indeed. After playing so beautifully he shouldnt get out by this way as he was double minded in that particular delivery of Keshav Maharaj who delivered a modest length ball. Mominul went front foot and then decided to go backfoot but to his horror the ball went to forward short leg where Aiden Markram held on an excellent reflex catch.
He didnt get the century that he deserved; still it is the innings to savour.
