Shakib Al Hasan stood tall amidst the odds when South African bowling tore Bangladesh batting apart, silencing the partisan crowd at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the first ODI on Friday.
Once Kagiso Rabada, the debutante fast bowler took a hat-trick to scythe down the Bangladesh top order, the visitors were on course to bring back the memory of 2011 World Cup when they wrapped up Bangladesh for 78 at the same ground.
With the side reeling 40 for four, it was Shakib Al Hasan who ensured the memory of 78 wouldn’t come back to haunt them. He added a 53 runs partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim to resist the rot. As they looked set to take the side in comfortable position, Mushfiqur played a wretched shot to lead his downfall.
Mushfiqur’s dismissal sparked a collapse but Shakib remained firm at the other end. In an unwavering resolve, he dealt the quality South African bowlers to tick the scoreboard. But it was Imran Tahir who produced a good delivery to stop him. Shakib finally made 48 off 53 with five fours.
Shakib, the No 1 all-rounder in all three formats, is just two wickets away to join an elite group of cricketers who have scored 4000 runs and took 200 ODI wickets.
|
As the team’s run of success in the one-day international cricket is at stake, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon met the players to motivate them ahead of the second… 
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.
|