Just look at the scorecards for the two innings of BD for the top order:
Javed Omar lbw Pathan 4 & lbw Pathan 4
Nafis Iqbal lbw Pathan 20 & lbw Kumble 54
Rajin Saleh lbw Pathan 0 & lbw Pathan 0
Habibul Bashar c Tendulkar b Khan 8 & c Khan b Pathan 15
Khaled Mashud c +Karthik b Khan 8 & c +Karthik b Pathan 5
M.I. Rana c +Karthik b Pathan 24 & c +Karthik b Khan 69
Bashar tried to pull short deliveries in both the innings and gave away catch to fielders who were specially stationed there for this very shot from Bashar. Dismissals of other 5 batsmen are self explanatory. First three batsmen were lbw playing across to incoming deliveries whereas the last two edged to the wicketkeeper.
As can be seen, as many as six batsmen got out in identical fashions in both the innings. In case of Omar and Saleh, even the scores were identical in both innings. It shows that these batsmen did not learn from their mistakes of the first innings and repeated them in the second innings as well.
Some of the forummers have already given up hopes for BD against India and they are looking forward to the series against Zimbabwe beginning next month. Zimbabwe is also taking this series very seriously. Zimbabwe have already landed in India, where they are acclimatising/training for the subcontinental conditions that will await them in Bangladesh.
As far as the bowling is concerned, Zimbabwe have some very decent new bowlers in their team. Unless BD batsmen quickly iron out their deficiencies, even Zimbabwe bowlers may be able to capitalise on them. As far as the batting is concerned, Zimbabwe batting appeared thin against big teams like Sri Lanka and England. But their batsmen may have an easier time against Bangladesh.
The BD v Zim series may well be won by the team which makes less mistakes and capitalise more on the chances coming their way. BD cannot afford to make the kind of mistakes they made against India. Against India, it did not alter the final result, but against Zimbabwe, it will be fatal as it may change the final outcome.
Edited on, December 13, 2004, 11:29 AM GMT, by cricketfan.
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