Kayes revels in ODI comeback
Sports Reporter
It could have been a fairytale comeback should Imrul Kayes scored the century in his one-day international comeback. He looked visibly distraught when he smashed a full toss of Sean Williams to long-off where Graeme Cremer took the catch to end his confident 76 runs knock.
It was the first time after the World Cup, Kayes was playing his first ODI. He was labeled as a Test batsman for long but a batsman who has the ability to play shots all corner of the park, couldnt be satisfied with just a tag of Test batsman.
After a 59-run knock against Pakistan in March 2014, he was dropped from the team following a four-match single digit figure against West Indies and Zimbabwe. He then came back in the team during the World Cup, replacing injured Anamul Haque Bijoy with a string of good performance in the domestic cricket. But that time also he couldnt grab the opportunity and subsequently dropped following yet another three-match long single-digit figure streak.
Overall he had seven single digit figure score before this 76 against Zimbabwe in the second ODI yesterday.
Therefore he started hard work to get back his ODI place and reaped the rewards of being included in the final 14-member squad for the series. He was not considered in the first ODI and also couldnt make room in the second ODI if Shakib was not in paternal leave. Shakibs absence gave him the chance and this time he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
He was the man who only played sensibly against a disciplined bowling attack and took the side in a position from where it would be hard to loss the match, given the slowness of the surface.
Bangladesh could have fallen in deep problem on a day when the two mainstay of the middle order Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim failed to click. It was on Kayes to deliver and he played his role in an emphatic fashion.
Kayes finally clattered six fours and four sixes in his 89 balls knock that actually helped the side to amass 241 for nine.
SCOREBOARD
Bangladesh innings:
Tamim c Chakabva b Panyangara 19
I Kayes c Cremer b Williams 76
Liton c Chakabva b Panyangara 7
M Riyad c Chakabva b Cremer 4
Mushfiq c Jongwe b Cremer 21
Sabbir c Chakabva b Jongwe 33
Nasir c Ervine b Panyangara 41
Mashrafe c Chibhabha b Muzarabani 13
A Sunny c Ervine b Muzarabani 3
Al-Amin not out 1
Mustafiz not out 5
Extras (b4, lb6, w7, nb1) 18
Total: (9 wickets, 50 overs) 241
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-47, 3-79, 4-127, 5-151, 6-193, 7-231, 8-234, 9-236.
BOWLING O M R W
T Panyangara 10 0 41 3
L Jongwe 8 0 47 1
T Muzarabani 9 0 32 2
S Raza 7 0 33 0
G Cremer 10 0 41 2
S Williams 6 0 37 1
Zimbabwe innings:
C Chibhabha b Mashrafe 14
R Chakabva lbw b Sunny 1
C Ervine run out 26
S Williams c Nasir b Mustafiz 14
E Chigumbura c Kayes b Al-Amin 47
S Raza c Kayes b Al-Amin 33
M Waller c Mushfiq b Nasir 8
L Jongwe b Mustafiz 11
G Cremer not out 1
T Panyangara c Mashrafe b Mustafiz 4
T Muzarabani not out 1
Extras (lb 11, w 12) 23
Total: (9 wickets; 43.1 overs) 183
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-23, 3-45,
4-78, 5-151, 6-156, 7-175, 8-177,
9-181.
BOWLING O M R W
Mustafiz 8 0 33 3
Mashrafe 9 1 47 1
A Sunny 9 0 34 1
Al-Amin 8 0 22 2
Nasir 9.1 0 36 1
Player of the match: Imrul Kayes
Result: Bangladesh won by 58 runs
