| Scorecard: | Bangladesh v New Zealand |
It was business as usual for Bangladesh as they were hammered by an innings and 99 runs by New Zealand in the first Test of a (mercifully) short two match series. It was the Tigers' 28th loss in 31 matches (the other three being rain affected draws) since they were granted Test status in 2000. Since the 2003 World Cup, they are now 0 wins, 12 losses, 2 draws. For New Zealand it was a welcome, if not particularly useful return to the win column. Their last win came against South Africa in March 2004, and this win broke a 4 match losing streak. Since the 2003 World Cup, they are now 2 wins, 5 losses, 6 draws. But the usefulness of a series against Bangladesh as a tune up for a series in Australia is questionable at best.
The graph shows Bangladesh's first innings consisted of a single century partnership--the only century partnership of the entire match (Rajin Saleh-Mohammad Ashraful) surrounded by two collapses. That partnership accounted for 65% of the production of the Bangladesh innings. More importantly for Bangladesh, they batted 98.5 overs, more than a day. It was only the tenth time in 31 matches that they have batted the equivalent of a day in their first innings. The innings was punctuated by a hat trick by James Franklin, only the second in New Zealand history. The first was by Peter Petherick in a 6 wicket loss to Pakistan at Lahore in October, 1976 (http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/30/f30980.html).
New Zealand scored 402 in response, but it was the way they did it that says volumes about the state of Bangladesh cricket. Halfway through the New Zealand innings they were 139/5 in 53.5 overs. At this point, although Bangladesh had scored only 177 in their first go around, they were well and truly in the match. What followed was a grinding second five wickets, for which New Zealand added 263 in 91.2 overs, led by Brendon McCullum's first Test century, ably assisted by three 50 partnerships with the bottom order (Jacob Oram--84, Daniel Vettori--71, and Franklin--57). By the time this innings had ended, Bangladesh had been ground to dust, as their second innings line shows.
Here the New Zealand spinners took over, taking nine wickets (the other falling to a runout), with Vettori taking the honors with incredible figures of 6-28 off 22 overs! Vettori finished the match with eight wickets, giving him 166 career Test wickets, passing Danny Morrison (160) for third place on the all time New Zealand list. Only Chris Cairns (197) and the incomparable Richard Hadlee (431) have more. Bangladesh's second innings looked much like their first, only without the saving grace of one big partnership.
And so, Bangladesh suffered another heavy defeat. But let us spare a moment to look at an impressive performance in defeat.
Mohammad Rafique's effort is amazing, given the context of the match... indeed the context of all Bangladesh matches. His captain Khaled Mashud went to him early and often, and he bowled 59.1 overs, including mammoth spells of 27 and 17 overs on the trot, separated by 12 and 14 over breathers respectively (the second spell broken by the taking of the new ball). When Rafique took his fourth wicket, New Zealand were 223/6 in their 84th over, of which he was bowling his 37th. The graph shows that his effectiveness decreased with each spell, but he still had enough to finally end the New Zealand innings in his 60th over. Rafique finished the match with an exhausting 6-122, giving him 55 Test wickets, the first Bangladeshi bowler to take 50 wickets. Bowling his heart out for the better part of two days, most likely knowing deep inside what the result would be all along, Rafique showed true competitive spirit and professionalism. Alas, it was for naught, as usual.
Sources for this article:
Rabeed Imam and Al Mussabir Sadi--Bangladesh Daily Star (Dhaka)
Martyn Watterson--New Zealand Press Association via New Zealand Herald (Auckland)
Rahul Bhatia--Wisden Cricinfo
Wisden Cricinfo ball by ball commentary and Stats Guru
cricketarchive.com scorecards
(Article: Copyright © 2004 Jack Solock)
