Bangladesh: A quest for glory. [Mediocre ICC 2005 tale]

[NZTailender]

Sonet and Saleh injured in time for the first test at Home vs India

In their place we have:

Mohammad Ashraful (22). FC 54 matches 2229 @ 24.77 4 100's 10 50's. Test 19 matches 798 @ 22.17 1 century 4 50's.
Bowl FC 984 overs 3417 runs 107 wickets @ 31.93. Tests 102 466 5 @ 93.20.

Aminul Islam, who I accidentally picked and now cannot unpick, is in the 12. He will not play *smacks head on desk*

 

[NZTailender]

Soon I'm going to announce a 20 man squad which will be the main squad for the next ten years.

1st Test vs India

Bangladesh XI
1. Ashraful Islam
2. Nafees Iqbal
3. Mohammad Ashraful (c)
4. Aftab Ahmed
5. Atiqur Rahman
6. Arif Ahmed (WK)
7. Manjural Islam
8. Araft Sunny
9. Rezaul Haque
10. Anwar Hossain
11. Shafaq Al-zabir

India's XI
1. V Sehwag
2. Y Singh
3. R Dravid
4. S Tendulkar (c)
5. VVS laxman
6. V Kambli
7. P Dharmani (wk)
8. H Singh
9. A Kumble
10. G Singh
11. A Salvi

India have won the toss and elected to bowl.

 

[Graham]

You're going well so far!

I wouldn't commit yourself to a squad. You never know how players will develop.

 

[NZTailender]

You're going well so far!

I wouldn't commit yourself to a squad. You never know how players will develop.

Better than I expected

yeah I wasn't going to but I'm breaking all my usual ICC habits here, so...

 

[Somerset]

Great story so far mate - congrats on the test series win against Zimbabwe!

 

[NZTailender]

Well we lost the test series against India but not for the lack of trying.

We were well on top at the end of day one after India won the toss and batted. They were 6 out for 261 runs. I hoped we could run through the rest in the morning but no. Kambli and Dharmani put on 96 to save India.
Kambli continued with the tail and took them to 391 all out.

In reply we just managed to avoid following on when all out 202. Amazingley, the opener Iqbal remained unbeaten on 77.

The bowlers came back well in the second innings and we removed the top order quickly. Then we ran into Kambli and Dharmani again putting up solid defence.
Once Kambli was gone the tail went cheaply and India were all out 287. Mohammad Islam taking 4 wickets for 61 off 22.

We chased with unrealistic hopes of making the total. With the slowness of our batting we decided to play for a draw.
The top four did well, making starts but unfortunately not going on. 2 quick wickets in the middle put India on top then inspired defence from Islam and Haque nearly got us home. With only one session remaining for us to bat out Haque was out for 56. Hossain and Al-zabir tried to hang on but we fell short by 5 overs!!!

India won by 190 runs.

India 391 all out.
V Kambli 117 N.O.
P Dharmani 55
M Ashraful 3-64
Haque 2-77

Bangladesh 202 all out.
N Iqbal 77 N.O.
G Singh 5-42
A Salvi 3-60

India 287 all out.
VVS Laxman 88
V Jambli 65
M Islam 4-61
A Hossain 3-36

Bangladesh 286 all out.
M Islam 69
R Haque 56
H Singh 4-86
A Salvi 3-76

India won by 190 runs.

Man of the match: V Kambli

For the second test we had a changed line up. We brought in Naeem Islam to replace Haque. India brought in Gambhir to replace Y Singh.


Bangladesh XI
1. Ashraful Islam
2. Nafees Iqbal
3. Mohammad Ashraful (c)
4. Aftab Ahmed
5. Atiqur Rahman
6. Arif Ahmed (WK)
7. Manjural Islam
8. Araft Sunny
9. Rezaul Haque
10. Anwar Hossain
11. Shafaq Al-zabir

India's XI
1. V Sehwag
2. Y Singh
3. R Dravid
4. S Tendulkar (c)
5. VVS laxman
6. V Kambli
7. P Dharmani (wk)
8. H Singh
9. A Kumble
10. G Singh
11. A Salvi

Once again we started of great with india 3-57. That was followed with a 145 run partnership between Dravid and Tendulkar.
Tendulkar was dismissed and then 8 runs later so was Laxman. We looked to be back in the game.

And then Kambli and Dharmani decided to bother us again with 70 runs for the 6th wicket.
The last 4 wickets cost 91 runs and shows the problem we have with getting the tail out, after performing well against the batters, India all out 371.

Islam and Iqbal put on their best partnership yet with 90 runs, Iqbal falling just short of his century.
A lot of good starts and half centuries but no one went on.

When debutant Naeem Islam went for 1 the innings looked shaky at 5-172.

At this stage, Mohammad Ashraful showed his class with a patient 89 (off 254!) along with the keeper Ahmed who hit 77 in a partnership of 137.

With 18 from the last 2 "batsmen" Bangladesh were all out for 340.

In india's second innings, everything belonged to Laxman.
His innings was a superb showing of his talent. However, his stumping on 165 was not.
Supported by danger man Kamlbi (84) India raced to 7 for 346 declared.
With a day left, we were never going to make the runs required. Once again our best hope was to bat out a draw.

And did it ever go badly.

By Lunch we were 5-35. When play resumed, 6-47 with a high score of 10 by Iqbal who was the 6th out!

Arif Ahmed and Manjural Islam combined again and slowly put on 90 before islam was out, then Ahemd and Sunny put on 56.
When Sunny was out, it was still hopeful we could pull off a draw. 4 runs later Ahmed was out and 5 overs remaining. Just like the previous test.

This time Anwar Hossain stood up and scored 19 and Bangladesh got away with a draw. Not a win but better than a loss. We learnt a lot from this match..

India 371 all out.
R Dravid 84
VVS Laxman 78
A Hossain 4-90
A Sunny 3-63

Bangladesh 340 all out.
M Ashraful 89
A Ahmed 71
G Singh 3-87
A Salvi 3-115

India 7 for 346 declared.
VVS Laxman 165
V Kambli 84
M Islam 3-61
S Al-zabir 2-58

Bangladesh 9 for 217
A Ahmed 86
M Islam 41
A Kumble 4-46
A Salvi 2-44

Match Drawn.

Man of the match: VVS Laxman.

Next are the One Day Internationals vs India.

 

[Graham]

Great fight that you put up against the Indians!

 

[NZTailender]

Line ups for the first one day international between Bangladesh and India.
Bangladesh are looking to spin their way to victory...

Bangladesh XI
1. Ashraful Islam
2. Nafees Iqbal
3. Arafat Salahuddin (ODI Debut)
4. Aftab Ahmed
5. Naeem Islam (ODI Debut)
6. Mohammad Ashraful
7. Arif Ahmed (WK)
8. Manjural Islam
9. Abdur Razzaq
10. Syed Rasel
11. Anwar Hossain

India XI
1. V Sehwag
2. G Ghambir
3. S Tendulkar (c)
4. V Kambli
5. VVS Laxman
6. P Dharmani (wk)
7. H Singh
8. A Kumble
9. G Singh
10. A Salvi
11. D Mohanty

 

[NZTailender]

We started off so well! India were 4-52 and we bowled really tight. They didn't pass 100 until the 35th over! Then Laxman and Dharmani went to town and destroyed the bowling attack for 145 runs

India 5 for 227 after 50.
VVS Laxman 101 N.O.
P Dharmani 63
A Rasel 2-31
A Hossain 2-53

Bangladesh 184 all out.
N Iqbal 76
N Islam 22
A Salvi 4-33
A Kumble 3-38

India won by 43 runs.

Man of the match: VVS Laxman

Next match Abdur Razzaq is replaced by Mohammad Shahzada

 

[NZTailender]

Second One Day international.

We batted first and were 3 out for 6 after 10 overs. Then Naeem Islam came back with a fighting 69 from 61. Iqbal got a good start with 39 but wasted a lot of deliveries. He faced 113 of them.

Bangladesh 9 for 176
N Islam 69
N Iqbal 39
A Kumgle 5-43
D Mohanty 3-26

India 2 for 177
S Tendulkar 85 N.O.
A Kambli 49 N.O.
M Islam 1-33
S Rasel 1-47

India won by 8 wickets.

Man of the match: A Kumble

Atiqur Rahmen replaces Arafat Salahuddin.

 

[NZTailender]

How humiliating

Bangladesh 44 all out.
A Ahmed 11
A Ahmed 9
D Mohanty 5-19
H Singh 2-6

India 2 for 45
G Gambhir 24
S tendulkar 11 N.O.
A Hossain 1-13
S Rasel 1-32

India won by 8 wickets.

Man of the match: D Mohanty.



Next we host England.
Oh this is going to be tough.

 

[NZTailender]

Bangladesh XI to face England. The keeper misses out to Naeem Islam. Opener Ashraful Islam will take the gloves...

We're boosted by the return of Sonet and Saleh.

1. Ashraful Islam (WK)
2. Nafees Iqbal
3. Rajin Saleh
4. Ishraq Sonet (c)
5. Atiqur Rahman
6. Aftab Ahmed
7. Naeem Islam
8. Manjural Islam
9. Arafat Sunny
10. Syed Rasel
11. Anwar Hossain

England XI
1. A Strauss
2. M Vaughan (c)
3. K Pietersen
4. J Troughton
5. A Flintoff
6. G Thorpe
7. M Butcher
8. G Jones (wk)
9. M Davies
10. M Hoggard
11. S Harmison

 

[Graham]

How humiliating

Bangladesh 44 all out.
A Ahmed 11
A Ahmed 9
D Mohanty 5-19
H Singh 2-6

India 2 for 45
G Gambhir 24
S tendulkar 11 N.O.
A Hossain 1-13
S Rasel 1-32

India won by 8 wickets.

Man of the match: D Mohanty.



Next we host England.
Oh this is going to be tough.

Keep your chin up. You've taken on a tough task!

 

[NZTailender]

Our team was lifted by the return of Sonet and Saleh, as it shows in the score. Aftab Ahmed batted extremely well to score his maiden test century! Sonet and Ahmed put on 139 for the 5th wicket.
England looked frustrated and used 8 bowlers with J Troughton picking up his first test match wicket! Even Michael Vaughan got 1 wicket.

An amazing day of cricket as we bowled England out for 271! They would've had to follow on except Geraint Jones's 49 saved them from that. Our fast bowlers showed excellent form in knocking over big name players.

Phew! Just batted really quick then. We batted so slow over two days to make our first score, but this time even contributed with quick runs. We were 5-264. Lower order players tried to belt some sixes and fours before declaring but only got out so thats why it reads 9 down. Otherwise very good batting from my youngsters.


Bangladesh 9 for 463 declared.
A Ahmed 136
N Iqbal 77
I Sonet 66
R Saleh 55
M Hoggard 3-108
S Harmison 2-97

England all out 271
A Flintoff 85
G Jones 49 N.O.
S Rasel 4-79
M Islam 3-55

Bangladesh 9-289
A Rahmen 62
A Islam 55
R Saleh 55
I Sonet 47
M Hoggard 5-69
M Davies 1-42

England 6 for 288
M Vaughan 72
A Strauss 53
A Hossain 2-71
S Rasel 2-79

Match Drawn.

Man of the match: Aftab Ahmed.

 

[NZTailender]

Keep your chin up. You've taken on a tough task!

Thanks

 

[NZTailender]

So close yet so far! After day one we had England completely dominated. Our slow batting in the first innings eventually cost us, but, if we hadn't built that score we would've lost probably...

We didn't remove either opener on day four in the last 40 minutes and just before lunch on the final day we got them both after a century stand. Then wickets fell steadily but Troughton and Jones defence was too good in the end and they saw England out to a draw.

Looking foward to the second match now. I think we can win this one

 

[Graham]

Great result getting a draw in the first test. Looking forward to the second test.

 

[NZTailender]

Aaargh! We missed out on a historic win over England by 1 wicket!

On day one we won the toss and batted...rather slowly. Iqbal and Islam made their first 100 run opening partnership as they both passed 50. Saleh got a golden duck then the captain Sonet and Aftab Ahmed also put on 100 runs. A few more wickets fell cheaply and we looked wobbly 8-244. M Islam, Bangladesh's man of the moment, made 77 of 60 while Syed Rasel supported him with 28.

Strauss (50) and Vaughan (47) looked to punish our bowlers with a 100 run stand before they were both out, and Pietersen (6) followed soon after. A couple more starts for England who threw away their wicket brought Thorpe and Butcher to the crease. Their 150 odd run partnership put some dignity into the innings and a couple of tail end contributions got them to all out 353.

Our second innings wasn't spectacular but we batted quickly although bowled out within a day. Rahman was the only one to pass 50 as Bangladesh were all out 248.

With just under 250 needed on the final day, England could've got the win. Except our bowlers started with tight overs and rewarded with some wickets early on, England 1-12 then 2-16 and 3-32. Then Strauss and Flintoff combined taking them to 94 but they weren't going to be the ones to save the innings. Thorpe and Jones blocked nicely but they too didn't make it, England 8-177. Davies out next, 9-178! With 30 minutes to bowl out Harmison and Hoggard, we couldn't make them budge! Not an LBW appeal or a catch or run out came our way. They batted out the overs, England finished 9-196.

The lineups:
Bangladesh XI
1. Nafees Iqbal
2. Ashraful Islam (WK)
3. Rajin Saleh
4. Ishraq Sonet (c)
5. Aftab Ahmed
6. Naeem Islam
7. Atiqur Rahman
8. Manjural Islam
9. Arafat Sunny
10. Syed Rasel
11. Anwar Hossain

England XI
1. A Strauss
2. M Vaughan (c)
3. K Pietersen
4. J Troughton
5. A Flintoff
6. G Thorpe
7. M Butcher
8. G Jones (wk)
9. M Davies
10. M Hoggard
11. S Harmison

Bangladesh all out 350.
M Islam 77 N.O.
A Islam 58
N Iqbal 50
I Sonet 50
S Harmison 6-84
M Hoggard 3-64

England all out 353.
M Butcher 99
G Thorpe 65
A Strauss 50
A Sunny 4-98
M Islam 3-80

Bangladesh all out 248
Rahman 66
Iqbal 40
M Davies 3-40
S Harmison 3-56

England 9 for 196.
A Flintoff 50
A Strauss 41
M Islam 4-50
A Hossain 2-41

Match Drawn.

Man of the match: S Harmison.

Next: 3 match One Day International series.

 

[NZTailender]

Great result getting a draw in the first test. Looking forward to the second test.

Thanks Same so close..

 

[Robertinho]

Wow, that's awesome, you're doing really well!!