ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day for the Super Eights game between Australia and Pakistan

Abhishek Purohit in Colombo02-Oct-2012The one that swung
First ball of his spell, Mitchell Starc ran in and hurled it in full. Mohammad Hafeez knew it would swing in, and shaped up to work it to leg. But he hadn’t accounted for it changing direction so much. The ball curled in past his bat and caught him plumb in front.The Watson moment
Batsmen are finding new ways to fall to that man Shane Watson. Full toss on leg stump: Imran Nazir makes room, gets inside the line and swipes it straight to mid-off.The breaking-free moment
Australia had removed the Pakistan openers early and Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal were finding it difficult to get going. In the 11th over, Pat Cummins bounced Jamshed, who opened up and pulled him hard over deep square leg for six. The runs started to flow after that.The celebrations
Pakistan became the first side in the tournament to get both the big Ws, Watson and Warner, cheaply. The magnitude of the strikes showed in the celebrations. After he trapped Watson lbw, Raza Hasan roared, ran towards extra cover, jumped high, and punched the air. After he trapped David Warner lbw, Hafeez ran all the way to square leg, bent his knees and repeatedly kept pumping his fists till his team-mates enveloped him.The summation
Australia’s cluelessness against the Pakistan spinners was summed up in the 11th over. Cameron White stood front-on in his crease and tried to scoop a fullish Hasan delivery over the wicketkeeper. He only managed to hit the lob the ball on to his helmet grill.

The West Indians warmed up perfectly for the five-ODI series with a 118-run win over BCB XI in Khulna, where most of their batsmen and bowlers had time in the middle

The Report by Mohammad Isam in Khulna28-Nov-2012
ScorecardLendl Simmons was the top scorer for the West Indians•Associated Press

The West Indians warmed up perfectly for the five-ODI series with a 118-run win over BCB XI in Khulna, where most of their batsmen and bowlers had time in the middle. Opening batsman Lendl Simmons led the domination with a quick half-century after acting captain Kieron Pollard decided to bat on a placid track.Simmons hit 12 fours and a couple of clean sixes during his 82 off 81 balls but the next four batsmen were all dismissed in the thirties. Pollard was his usual brutal self during a 28-ball 44. However, it was wicketkeeper Devon Thomas who was happiest, making an unbeaten 61 that took the West Indians’ total past 350. Thomas struck three sixes and five fours during his 43-ball innings and 97 runs came off the last ten overs.Elias Sunny took three wickets while Marshall Ayub and Farhad Reza claimed two each. The most impressive part of BCB XI’s bowling was the three consecutive yorkers that Reza delivered to Andre Russell in the 38th over, with the West Indies allrounder getting bowled by the last of those deliveries.BCB XI began the chase of 361 with a 63-run opening stand. Opener Imrul Kayes, who is not in contention for a place in the Bangladesh ODI squad, batted fluently but fell for 43. Anamul Haque, who is set to make his ODI debut in Khulna, struggled and made just 22 off 42 balls.Mominul Haque scored 43 off 57 balls, but once he and Ayub fell, the innings was all but over. Sunny was unbeaten on 37 off 29 balls and BCB XI were bowled out for 243 runs in 49.1 overs.

A round-up of the latest round of matches of the Sunfoil Series 2012-13

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2012A career-best 154 and a match tally of five wickets by Johan van der Wath helped Knights secure an eight-wicket win in Bloemfontein, their first in the competition. The Dolphins put on a better batting performance in their second innings, but could only manage to set a target of 115, which the Knights chased easily.The Knights did a good job keeping the Dolphins to 221 on the opening day after winning the toss. The seamers, Van der wath, Dillon du Preez and Malusi Siboto shared the wickets, with Siboto taking 4 for 37. The main batsmen failed, and it was up to the lower-order duo of Kyle Abbott and Calvin Savage to add 65 to take the score past 200. The Knights were in a spot of bother on the second day at 108 for 6, before Werner Coetsee and van der Wath compiled the highest partnership of the match. Their stand of 161 was the turning point, as it set up a healthy first-innings lead for the Knights. After Coetsee departed for 69, van der Wath got useful support from the lower order. Shadley van Schalwyk frustrated Dolphins with 80 at No.10 and there was no respite either from the No.11 Siboto, who scored 41 to stretch the lead to 277. Van der Wath smashed 19 fours and three sixes in his 154.The Dolphins showed better resistance in the second innings, with half-centuries by Imraan Khan, Khayelihle Zondo, Daryn Smit and Abbott. The Dolphins were under pressure to save the game when they ended the penultimate day 25 behind with five wickets in hand. The lower order put on three successive fifty partnerships to keep Knights at bay, but were bowled out for 391. The Knights knocked off the required runs in under 30 overs and remained in third place.A seven-wicket haul by the seamer Ayabulela Gqamane sent Lions crashing to 59, helping the Warriors come back from an 80-run first-innings deficit, setting up a ten-wicket win at the Wanderers. Gqamane’s career-best 7 for 24 swung the game Warriors’ way and the game was over after lunch on day three.The Lions chose to bat and ended the opening day at 275 for 7, with the captain Stephen Cook scoring 95, Neil McKenzie 50 and Thami Tsolekile unbeaten on 64. Gqamane took 4 for 46, while Andrew Birch took 4 for 68 to bowl out the Lions for 315. Tsolekile remained unbeaten on 88.The Lions spinners, Imran Tahir and Edie Leie, jolted the Warriors top order to reduce them to 118 for 5. Christiaan Jonker and Simon Harmer added 81 for the sixth wicket before Zander de Bruyn wrapped up the innings for 235, giving the Lions a lead of 80. What followed was a stunning turnaround as Gqamane ran through the line-up in 10.4 overs to finish with his maiden ten-wicket haul. Only two batsmen passed double figures in the second innings.It left Warriors chasing 140, and they sailed home thanks to the opening pair of Davy Jacobs (84*) and Michael Price (49*).Cape Cobras retained their position at the top of the table with a ten-wicket win over Titans at Newlands in a three-day finish. Put in to bat, the Titans were rolled over for 192 on the opening day with Justin Kemp taking 5 for 45. The Titans were struggling at 47 for 5 before David Wiese and Roelof van der Merwe scored half-centuries. The Cobras openers, Andrew Puttick and Alistair Gray nearly matched the Titans’ first-innings score on their own. Their stand of 169 set the platform for a big score, and the second-wicket pair of Puttick and Stiaan van Zyl took the game further away from the Titans with a stand of 120. Puttick managed a century, but van Zyl and Gray fell short, scoring 91 and 84 respectively. Qaasim Adams and the lower order then took the score to 476 for 8 before the declaration, giving the Cobras a healthy lead of 284.There was more trouble for the Titans at the end of the second day, losing two early wickets in the face of a huge deficit. In the third morning, things got worse when Pieter Malan edged Johann Louw to third slip. Heino Kuhn and Jacques Rudolph resisted with fifties. Louw broke their stand of 88 and dismissed the pair to finish with 5 for 89. Beuran Hendricks took 4 for 73 as the Titans finished on 301 leaving the Cobras just 18 to chase.

Four Bangladesh cricketers who made their international debut last year have been given rookie contracts in place of four experienced players for 2013

Mohammad Isam14-Jan-2013Four Bangladesh cricketers who made their international debut last year have been given rookie contracts in place of four experienced players in the BCB’s contract players’ list. All fifteen players have also been given a 10% increase in salary for 2013.Sohag Gazi, Anamul Haque, Abul Hasan and Mominul Haque have been brought under BCB’s contracts in place of Nazimuddin, Imrul Kayes, Nazmul Hossain and Shuvagata Hom.Offspinner Gazi was the stand-out performer against West Indies, taking 12 wickets in the two-Test series as well as breakthrough performances on both Test and ODI debut. Opening batsman Anamul struck 120 in only his second one-day match while pace bowler Abul became the first No. 10 in 110 years to make a Test century on debut. Mominul impressed as a middle-order batsman in the ODI series, playing a crucial littlie innings in the deciding ODI.The players they have replaced haven’t had a great 2012 with Nazimuddin, Imrul Kayes and Shuvagata all on the fringes of national selection. Nazmul Hossain seems to be the unlucky one yet again, cut off from the central contracts despite playing important roles on occasions as well as filling in whenever required. But his own injury record probably worked against him.Among those who have been given an extended contract from 2012, vice-captain Mahmudullah has been promoted from Grade A to Grade A+ while Nasir Hossain has been elevated from Grade B to C.Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Abdur Razzak and now Mahmudullah are in Grade A+, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam and Nasir Hossain are in Grade B while Jahurul Islam and Elias Sunny are in Grade C.Bangladesh central contracts 2013
Grade A+: Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Abdur Razzak, Mahmudullah
Grade A: none
Grade B: Rubel Hosain, Shafiul Islam, Nasir Hossain
Grade C: Jahurul Islam, Elias Sunny
Rookie: Sohag Gazi, Anamul Haque, Abul Hasan, Mominul Haque

Michael Beer’s hopes of travelling to India as Australia’s backup spinner on the upcoming Test tour have taken a blow after he injured his shoulder at training on Monday

Brydon Coverdale22-Jan-2013Michael Beer’s hopes of travelling to India as Australia’s backup spinner on the upcoming Test tour have taken a blow after he injured his shoulder at training on Monday. Beer has been ruled out of Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match starting in Sydney on Thursday and scans will determine how long he will take to recover.That will leave the national selectors needing to consider other spin options as support for Nathan Lyon on the Indian trip, which begins with a Test in Chennai in exactly one month, starting on February 22. The squad is likely to be selected within the next ten days. Beer was bullish about his chances of a quick return but Western Australia were less certain.”Michael Beer injured his AC joint while fielding at training yesterday afternoon,” the WACA said in a statement. “Beer will continue to be assessed to determine the extent of the injury and the length of time he is expected to be sidelined.”Initially, reports were emerging from the Western Australia camp that Beer had injured his knee, but it soon became apparent that it was his AC joint, not his ACL joint, that was the problem. “My knees are fine, just a sore shoulder. Will be back in no time,” Beer tweeted late on Monday night.Beer, who last played for Australia during the tour of West Indies last April, will remain a candidate for the India tour if his injury proves not to be severe. But missing the Shield match is unfortunate given his lack of impact in the first half of the Shield summer, when he took eight wickets at an average of 46.37 for the Warriors.However, his figures are not unusual by the standards of spinners this season due to the seam-friendly pitches early in the summer. So far, the leading wicket taker in the competition is Steve O’Keefe with nine at 34.55, and Beer’s injury will encourage O’Keefe and spinners from all states, who know that one big match in this next round of games could put them in contention.

If Pakistan were under the impression that South Africa would be obliging hosts after day one at the Wanderers, they were quickly disabused of that notion as they were dismissed for the their lowest total in Tests

The Report by Alan Gardner02-Feb-2013
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSouth Africa’s bowlers, in particular Dale Steyn, made life near to impossible for Pakistan•Getty Images

South Africa took their opponents by the throat and shook them into submission on the second day at the Wanderers, as Pakistan collapsed to their lowest-ever total in Tests before watching helplessly as a 411-run gulf opened between the sides. Dale Steyn took 6 for 8 in an extraordinary, lethal display before half-centuries from Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers pressed home South Africa’s dominance.If Pakistan were under the impression that South Africa would be obliging hosts after a profitable first day at the Wanderers, they were quickly disabused of that notion. Mauled by Steyn, with Vernon Philander and Jacques Kallis picking the carcass clean, they were saved from the potential ignominy of being bowled out twice in a day by Smith’s decision not to enforce the follow-on, despite a 204-run lead. Although there is a possibility of rain, with three days left in the game Pakistan look to be on course for a hiding on the Highveld.Earlier, Steyn recorded his 20th five-wicket haul in Tests either side of lunch, as Pakistan were confounded by pace, swing and bounce. Nine batsmen fell caught behind the wicket, with six victims for de Villiers equalling the record for a South Africa wicketkeeper; Steyn, in particular, bowled a line of beauty and Pakistan quivered along at less than two runs an over. Remarkably, this was the third time in 15 months that South Africa have bowled out a side for less than 50, after the routs of New Zealand and Australia in Cape Town.As South Africa ascended to the No. 1 Test ranking over the last year, the sight of their dominance has become increasingly familiar. They dispatched England and Australia in their own backyards and Smith’s team are now relishing the chance to display their talents in front of home crowds. The only disappointment for the Johannesburg locals may be that this contest – like the two Tests against New Zealand last month – is unlikely to go anywhere near the distance.The Pakistan innings could not have resembled a horror show any more had Freddy Krueger been spotted in the stands. As ever, Steyn was a batsman’s nightmare incarnate, his opening spell decapitating the Pakistan top-order in a manner worthy of any slasher flick to leave them 12 for 3. After lunch, with Pakistan listing on 40 for 7, he returned with eyes still blazing. If the batsmen were luckless sailors, Steyn was a glimpse of St Elmo’s fire, forecasting their doom. His relentless display produced six wickets and 39 dot balls – and only allowed three scoring shots – in 8.1 overs of mesmeric bowling. He now has 19 wickets at 8.31 from two-and-a-half Tests in 2013. Perhaps, with South Africa’s light Test programme this year, he has decided to stockpile them early.A partnership of 24 in almost 14 overs between Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq for the fourth wicket was the wafer-thin mint of comfort for Pakistan, before the darkness swallowed them up again. Their last seven wickets fell for 13 runs and the roar of the crowd became a blanket of white noise.Mohammad Hafeez was the first to go, set up by a back-of-a-length delivery that seared past the edge and over the top of off stump. The next ball, the 11th of the morning, was fuller and wider, pulling Hafeez across and into a fateful flirt. His opening partner, Nasir Jamshed, did not last much longer, pinned in front of leg stump by an inswinger two balls after surviving a review to a similar delivery from Vernon Philander that was judged to have been passing over the top.Jamshed’s debut was ended on 2, but experience was no defence against Steyn’s weapons and he amassed further destruction with the final ball of the sixth over, as a full delivery left Younis Khan to take the outside edge.Pakistan had been billed as the main event during the South African Test summer, after New Zealand were packed up and dispatched with indecent haste. That theory had been bolstered on the first day, as Pakistan’s bowlers showed why they are so highly regarded, but the real test was to be of the batsmen. A spell of seven consecutive maidens – and 47 balls without a run from the bat – showed just how difficult the South African syllabus can be.Azhar and Misbah have both played dogged innings in the past but the former was surprised by a brute of a lifter from Kallis – even when Steyn and Philander were removed from the attack, there was no release. Misbah, having been hit on the forearm, the stomach and the hands, was channelling all his qualities of resistance but he was dislodged after a successful South Africa review. The ball was slightly short and wide but there was a feather of an edge, detectable only by Hot Spot. Pakistan may have felt that even technology was conspiring against them: Faf du Plessis had survived a similar review on the first day and de Villiers was reprieved on 49 against Saeed Ajmal in the second innings, despite inconclusive replays.In the dressing room, Pakistan’s coach, Dav Whatmore, sprang from his seat in surprise; he would quickly have slumped back down, however, as Philander took wickets six and seven in the next over. Junaid Khan hit Philander for consecutive fours in an attempt to get Pakistan past 53 – the follow-on target and their previous lowest Test score – but Steyn was irresistible.Although his bowlers had been exerted for less than 30 overs between them, Smith chose to stay the execution. The strategy drew some flak but South Africa could afford to bludgeon home their advantage and Smith was doubtless wary of having to bat last against Ajmal. The openers duly added 82 on a pitch that was still assisting the seamers, Smith reaching fifty in his 100th Test as captain, and although three wickets fell for 17, the innings progressed comfortably enough at around four runs an over as Amla and de Villiers combined for an unbroken 108. Pakistan may have spoiled Smith’s birthday on Friday but, by now, they had been well and truly Biffed.

Michael Hogan and Ashton Agar conjured a last-wicket stand of 68 to deliver an extraordinary victory to Western Australia over South Australia in the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Mar-2013
ScorecardMichael Hogan and Ashton Agar conjured a last-wicket stand of 68 to deliver an extraordinary victory to Western Australia over South Australia in the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval.The Warriors appeared down for the count at 9 for 143 chasing 207 to win, but Hogan and Agar each completed outstanding allround displays to lift the visitors to 26 points on the Shield table, level with SA and two points behind the leaders Victoria with one round remaining.It was WA’s second remarkable turnaround in recent weeks, having been bowled out for 97 by Tasmania and then chased down a distant fourth innings target at home, and demonstrated how the team’s spirit and character have improved with Justin Langer as coach, Adama Voges as captain and Michael Hussey as senior pro.Resuming at 4 for 50, the Warriors made a strong start, Marcus Harris and Mitchell Marsh reducing the requirement in some style on a wearing pitch. But Marsh’s contentious run-out – the batsman unhappy to see the umpire’s raised finger after diving for his crease – swung the momentum of the morning.Harris was removed by Tim Ludeman’s grand diving catch off Joe Mennie, the first of four wickets to fall for 11 runs and so leave Agar with only Hogan for company.But as he had done in the first innings, Hogan struck cleanly, while Agar continued to demonstrate rare composure for one so young. SA had a few half chances, but the WA pair were able to close in quickly, Hogan ending the contest with the flourish of a straight six.

N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, said that the concerns surrounding the participation of Sri Lankan players in the IPL were an “operational issue” and would be handled

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Mar-2013N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, has said the concerns surrounding the participation of Sri Lankan players in the IPL was an “operational issue” and would be handled accordingly.Political tensions in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, over the treatment of Tamils in Sri Lanka had resulted in the Sri Lanka Players’ Association raising concerns over the safety of Sri Lanka players in India during the IPL. Thirteen Sri Lankan players have been contracted with different franchises, including Chennai Super Kings who have Nuwan Kulasekara and Akila Dananjaya as part of their squad.”India is a safe place,” Srinivasan said in an interview to . “Every state in India is safe for playing cricket. I cannot predict anything, but these are operational matters. We have an event manager, IMG, who will deal with local issues as and when they arise. I believe the government of Tamil Nadu is extremely capable of handling any situation and there is absolutely no problem of law and order or anything of that kind here. And the IPL is still some time away. These are issues which, I think, will get sorted out.”Srinivasan also said that he was unaware of requests made by IPL franchises to shift games but said the board and the IPL would discuss the situation if needed.Srinivasan expressed his happiness with India’s 4-0 series win against Australia but refused to comment on the future of Sachin Tendulkar, who will turn 40 next month. In the home series against England, Tendulkar scored 112 runs at an average of 18.66, and he made 192 runs at an average of 32 against Australia. Having already retired from one-day internationals in December last year, and with India’s next Test series several months away, there has been speculation about Tendulkar’s Test retirement.”I don’t think anyone of us can talk about Sachin,” Srinivasan said. “He is possibly the greatest cricketer India has produced. I don’t think it is for us to sit and analyse his performance series-wise. Sachin is different from others. This is a personal view. I distinguish between selection and my view. If you ask my view, if you ask me what I feel, I think every Indian will say that Sachin is different from others.”

A predatory mauling that lasted for most of Chennai Super Kings’ innings set up a mammoth 77-run for the visitors, who ruined Sunrisers Hyderabad’s perfect home record and placed themselves on the very brink of another playoffs berth

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando08-May-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA predatory mauling that lasted for most of Chennai Super Kings’ innings set up a mammoth 77-run for the visitors, who ruined Sunrisers Hyderabad’s perfect home record and placed themselves on the very brink of another playoffs berth. Michael Hussey’s 42-ball 67 fanned the sparks of a bright start into a roaring middle-over onslaught, before Suresh Raina acquired the bellows and set the stadium ablaze. At the close of the innings, he was one run short of a deserved hundred, having struck at over 190, and with the aid of a brief late burst from Ravindra Jadeja and a woeful Sunrisers attack, he had lifted his side to 223 for 3.Sunrisers rarely looked capable of challenging that total during their response, and finished eventually on 146 for 8, now facing a steep climb into the playoffs, as their net run rate (-0.228) suffered due to the big defeat.At the toss MS Dhoni said he had instructed his side to drive their 60-run loss to Mumbai Indians from their minds, and it is difficult to imagine how his side could have been more emphatically obedient. The same top order that succumbed to 40 for 6 in their last match appeared in supreme collective form in Hyderabad, and though their opponents were lacklustre at best, Super Kings’ batsmen not only exacted a heavy toll from the bad balls, they heaped pressure on the bowling by creating their own space and blasting even good deliveries to the fence.Ishant Sharma began the rot for Sunrisers on his way to figures of 0 for 66 in his four overs – the worst ever spell in the history of the tournament. Dale Steyn, who conceded only 17 in contrast, had begun the match with a maiden to Hussey, but the batsman quickly amended his strike-rate against Ishant, before his opening partner M Vijay exploited the poor bowling even more brutally in Ishant’s next over, by hitting him for three consecutive on side sixes.Hussey’s knock was drenched in class. Running hard as always, and finding gaps with uncanny precision, Hussey moved smoothly through the gears after his slow start, and before long, Super Kings were hitting 10 runs or more an over as a matter of routine. The spinners were treated little different from the errant quicks – Hussey launched both Amit Mishra and Karan Sharma into the stands – before Raina came quickly up to speed and had eclipsed his senior partner before Hussey’s dismissal.Sunrisers continued to stray, though it must be said the flat pitch offered little wiggle room for bowlers, and Raina, moving particularly swiftly around the crease, rarely seemed to be breaking a sweat as he hit ball after ball to the fence. He tortured a broken Ishant in his final over, hitting four pretty fours and a slogged six, plundering 23 from that over for himself, though two wides added a couple more to the team tally.Sunrisers failed to rally at any point after Super Kings had set off, and though Parthiv Patel gave the hosts a sliver of hope, as he set off quickly in their reply, the clatter of wickets at the other end snuffed that chance, and left them still outside the top four on the table. Super Kings consolidated their position at the top with 20 points, with three league games to play.

Bangladesh came out on top by making fewer mistakes, and ended up crushing Zimbabwe by 121 runs

The Report by Mohammad Isam03-May-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsNasir Hossain’s timely half-century lifted Bangladesh to a competitive 269 for 8•AFP

Bangladesh came out on top by making fewer mistakes, and ended up crushing Zimbabwe by 121 runs. The home side fell into a sink-hole of wickets in the middle order, from which they never recovered.The material differences between the two teams were Nasir Hossain’s timely 68, which rescued Bangladesh from their own middle-order implosion, and Ziaur Rahman’s five wickets, which damaged the Zimbabwe middle-order badly. It also helped Rahman bring down his bowling average.It was Brendan Taylor’s dismissal for 33 that saw the home side slip from 78 for two in the 15th over to 148 all out in 32.1 overs.Taylor had his offstump rattled by Razzak after batting confidently for 37 deliveries. After a short partnership, Sean Williams was run out after some hesitation with his partner Hamilton Masakadza, who fell for a promising 38 soon after. He was Ziaur Rahman’s first wicket of the day, before the Bangladesh bowler dismissed Elton Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya in quick succession.Chigumbura played a slog off his third ball, while Mominul Haque took a catch to remove Utseya for a duck. Television replays of Utseya’s dismissal weren’t conclusive as the umpires went to the third-umpire for a decision.This was the worst period of play for Zimbabwe’s batting as they lost 5 wickets for 15 runs in 39 balls. The last four of these wickets fell on 93, as Bangladesh took control of the game. Malcolm Waller and Shingi Masakadza added 55 runs for the eighth wicket but Ziaur broke the stand and later took the wicket of Tinashe Panyangara to complete the five-for. Robiul Islam removed Shingi who made 33 to add to his four-wicket haul.Earlier, Nasir held the Bangladesh innings together after they were 94 for 4 in the 22nd over. It was his fifth ODI fifty, and he struck seven fours and a six in his 67-ball innings. He put together two important partnerships too. For the fifth wicket, he and Mominul Haque added 76 off 87 balls in quick time, before Nasir and Mahmudullah put together 44 runs for the sixth wicket.Nasir’s knock was the only element of the innings that wasn’t riddled with mistakes, although his innings ended with a well-timed shot that was caught at deep point. But he dominated the Zimbabwe bowlers despite the situation. He found boundaries regularly, striking the ball very well and piercing the off-side field from the start.Mominul struck three boundaries in his 66-ball 38, which was slightly slower than what was desired at the stage. And not for the first time, he was out playing a ball far from his body.
All the main Bangladesh batsmen gave away their wickets to a combination of soft dismissals, poor calling and overall complacency.It began with Tamim Iqbal, who was caught down the legside off Shingi Masakadza in the 14th over. He and Mohammad Ashraful added 65 runs quite confidently but their reticence at playing shots regularly had them getting out in such ordinary manner.Ashraful, too, got out to a poor shot, caught at deep square-leg off Shingi’s next over. Captain Mushfiqur Rahim under-edged to the wicketkeeper after chasing a wide one outside offstump from Masakadza. Three balls later, Shakib Al Hasan was run out after Mominul’s poor call.After he tapped the ball on the offside, Mominul initially called him for the single but stopped him midway through the run. Shakib slipped and before he could run, Malcolm Waller had hit the stumps with an underarm throw.Masakadza was the best Zimbabwe bowler, taking four wickets for 51 runs. It was a frustrating morning session for the home side as they gave away 36 extras, including 18 wides. Masakadza completed his third four-wicket haul in ODIs after he clean bowled Mahmudullah. The beleaguered batsman came out at No. 7 to make 36 off 38 balls with three fours, key to their 88 runs in the final ten overs.