Shakib al Hasan’s brilliant performance against New Zealand in 1st ODI
Cricket fans around the world have seen a crunching game of cricket between New Zealand and Bangladesh. Whenever a quality team is playing against Bangladesh, it is presumed to be a one-sided affair. However at times, it can go the other way round.
This is primarily because nobody in the world wants to see a one-sided contest between any two teams. Every single fan of the game of cricket wants a hard fought contest. They pay their money to see a healthy competition. They spend their precious time in
front of the T.V to witness an interesting cricket match. In the end everybody wants his team to come up as victorious.
And this is exactly what cricket fans in Mirpur were rewarded with. Bangladesh turned the tables around by beating a disciplined Kiwi side in the first ODI of the five match series by 9 runs via the Duckworth/http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lewis-c72807 method.
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. In the allotted quota of 50 overs, the Bengali tigers set a competitive target of 229 runs for New Zealand to win. In their quest for runs, the Bengali openers played sensibly at the start of their innings.
In the first 15 overs, Bangladesh compiled 61 runs for the loss of 1 wicket, considering that there was support for the bowlers early on in the innings on a fresh pitch. They crawled to 132/4 with 31 overs already bowled. The stage was set for a scintillating
batting performance to propel Bangladesh to a fighting total.
In came Shakib al http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990 with a sense of responsibility to take his team to a competitive total. At first, he started his innings watchfully by just milking the balls for singles. He knew that he had to play aggressively to extend the expected total. Shakib
struck an impressive 58 runs off 51 balls. Such was his innings that it boosted the morale of the entire team.
Moreover, in last three overs, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 added 30 runs to dent New Zealand’s confidence to a certain extent. Shakib got out in the 48th over of the innings, but he gave a direction to his team’s innings, which in the end set a fighting target
of 229 runs.
On the other hand, the Kiwis started their innings in spectacular fashion with openers Brendon McCallum and Jessie Ryder stroking the white cherry to all parts of the ground. The total moved on to 53 runs in just 6 overs. It was time for some Shakib magic
once again, this time with the ball, to lift the spirits of hopeless Bangladeshi outfit. The left arm spinner removed one of the aggressors, Jessie Ryder, on the 5th ball of his first over.
The departure of Ryder and Watling did not make any difference to McCallum’s intentions. He was bludgeoning the opposition bowling to all parts of park. The wicket keeper batsmen piled up 61 runs of 45 balls. His innings includes seven boundaries and two
towering sixes. New Zealand’s total went up to 85/2 in just 14 overs. It seemed as if McCallum would run away with the game. As is the case with Bangladesh, a heroic performance was the need of the hour.
Shakib made his presence felt once again with his gritty left arm spin in the 15th over of the innings. Brendon McCullum was using his feet against the spinners which he tried against the spin of Shakib as well. The left armer was always up to
task, as he passed a quicker one through the defences of the dancing McCallum, to disturb the furniture. Shakib was still not done for the over.
Two balls later, Shakib fired one in, to hit Elliot’s pad, getting him out leg before wicket. The all-rounder swung the match in his teams favour in just one over. Rain affected play when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 were at 84/4 in 15 overs.
When showers stopped, the target was revised to 210 runs in 37 overs. The Kiwis had to score some quick runs to seal victory. However, Shakib was in their way once again. He not only bowled some mean overs in the end, but also got the wicket of the dangerous
looking Nathan McCallum, to hit the last nail in the coffin.
The Bangladeshi all-rounder ended up with bowling figures of 4/41 in 8 overs backed up with his match changing fifty that earned him the Man-of-the-match award.
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