Steven Finn’s impresses everyone at Lords
In the end, the English team cruised to a comfortable win against Bangladesh at Lords through a fantastic bowling performance by Steven Finn who took his first five-wicket haul in test cricket. Captain Andrew Strauss played a marvellous knock of 82 runs in the second innings to power the English team to a comprehensive win by eight wickets. They chased their required 160 runs with ease only for the loss of two second innings wickets. However, hats off to the spirit of Bangladeshi team who fought it out in all the five days of their first test match at London.
Throughout the test match, Finn bowled extremely well for the English side. With his performance of 9 for187 runs at the end of the first test match, Finn showed his tremendous cricketing talent to the world. A wonderful knock of 226 by Jonathan Trott in the first innings of the match combined with his excellent bowling which made things quite comfortable for the English team in the end. Throughout the match, the England did not go on the back foot. However, a superb knock from Bangladeshi opener Tamim Iqbal had strengthened the possibility of a draw on the last day of the match. Iqbal has now become the first ever Bangladesh playerto have scored a century at Lord’s.
On the final day of the first Test match at Lords, tickets were sold at a reduced price. Finn on the final and most important day took three wickets in the first two hours of the match to set the ball rolling in Englands favour. Eoin Morgan at square-leg took a brilliant catch of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan when he was on 16. By dismissing the Bangladesh wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim in the second hour of Day 5, Finn recorded his five wickets haul. The tail enders which included Rubel Hossain and Mahmudullah were then wrapped up by Bresnan for menial scores in the end.
Other than Strauss, no one in the English team fired for the team while chasing a paltry total of 160 runs. With a strike rate of more than a hundred, Strauss made a quick half century on just 50 balls. Although the final figures of the match went in favour of theEnglinsh team, the Bangladesh team did put up an astonishing fight.
The English team would have been in great trouble without Finn’s brilliant performance. The 21-year-old Finn impressed every one with his accurate and mature bowling. The middlesex pacer is surely the best thing that has happened for the English team over the last few years. Finn has the ability tofight it out for the team at crucial situations of a match.
About 32 years ago, Ian Botham grabbed ten wickets against New Zealand at Lords cricket ground. Finn only fell one short of equaling that record. Botham was an all-rounder who was capable of performing with the bat as well. Finn on the other hand is a full fledge package with intelligence, height, pace, bounce and a clean bowling action. Undoubtedly, the young fast bowler is a real asset to the England side.
In spite of Trott’s double century, the fast bowler due to his tremendous bowling figure was awarded the man of the match award. According to England Captain Andrew Strauss, the highlight of the match for him was definitely Finn’s extra ordinary performance. According to experts, his consistent line and length all throughout the innings was amazing to say the least.
Now the same England squad is expected to play an unchanged team in the second test match starting from Friday. The nerves of the English crowds might havefrayed a little if Finn had not performed in the manner in which he did. Finn’s habit of falling over in his follow through while bowling seems to be his only drawback at the moment. The pacer will have to take care of it as it may lead to an serious injury.
Finn has been bowling tremendously well all through the season and has proved to be successful in taking wickets. Being a confident player, he has healthy terms with all his team members. If he follows the same lines and remains on his feet, this young man has a long future waiting for him in the days to come.
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