SHABASH BANGLADESH!

[Sham]

Bangladesh ended Day 2 at 40 for no loss after bowling the West Indies out for 296 in their first inings. The West Indies still leads by 62.

The day belonged to Bangladesh from start to finish. We got 9 wickets today for 258 runs, by far the best performance by our bowlers in Test cricket so far in my view. And then to top it all off, we negotiated 12 overs in poor light without losing a wicket. We are still 62 in arrears, but if Rokon and Hannan can hang around for a while in the morning, we might be able to write that off without too much damange.

Anyway, barring a dramatic collapse, we will make WI bat again. That in itself will be an achievement after the way we went down in Dhaka. After so long, a good day feels so good. I really thought that we would undo all the good work on the field by losing 2 or 3 wickets by the close of play. But to go in tomorrow with 10 wickets intact, that is a great feeling. I don't want to get too hopeful, but this is GREAT! This is the sort of fight we have been praying for. They just have to continue fighting, all the way down the line-up.

Also, a special mention to Baisya for getting a career best 4 for 72.

[fwullah]

Congratulations to Tapash for taking career best 4 for 74

[Sham]

We never bowled a team out for less than 300 before. Well, now that we have done it once, hopefully we can repeat it more often.

[rafiq]

SQUARE THE SERIES, BANGLADESH!

thanks for taking the new ball this time, pilot.

although tapsh got the final wickets, manju and talha troubled the batsmen all day.

hopefully the selectors also realize the logic of the current bowling lineup

[Sham]

For the first time, it feels like we have deserved the 'Tigers' title. I know we are making a big deal out of one good day, but these days don't come often.

From BBC SPORT (bbc.co.uk/sport)

Tigers back in hunt

Second Test, Chittagong, day two: Bangladesh 194 & 40-0 v West Indies 296 (close)

Bangladesh remained very much in the second Test in Chittagong after bowling West Indies out for 296.

Tapash Baisya took four wickets for 72 as the hosts lost their last five wickets for 70 runs.

A 102-run first-innings lead was almost halved by the close of play as openers Al Sahariar (21 not out) and Hannan Sarkar (12 not out) saw off the Windies attack.

Resuming play on 38 for one, West Indies lost four wickets in a disappointing morning session at the MZ Aziz Stadium.

Manjurul Islam achieved the initial breakthrough when he had Ramnaresh Sarwan caught behind for 17.


The normally aggressive Chris Gayle batted for over two hours to make 38 but was then bowled by youngster Talha Jubair, who followed up by removing Marlon Samuels for 31.

Spinner Enamul Haque accounted for Shiv Chanderpaul (16) but Darren Ganga and Ridley Jacobs kept their heads and put together a partnership of 99 either side of the first interval.

Ganga's innings of 63 came to an end when he was caught by Baisya off Sanwar Hossain.

Jacobs added just one run after tea before edging behind off Baisya for 59, leaving behind a tail that the same bowler finished off with a minimum of fuss.

The Bangladesh openers scored briskly in 12 tricky overs before the close, giving the Tigers much cause for hope for a profitable third day.




[Edited on 17-12-2002 by Sham]

[Mahmood]

Its amazing what "good selection" and "psychiatrist" can do to a team.

[Piranha]

For once we put up a fight. This feels really really good. Whatever happens from now onwards, I can still say that we are on our road to improvement.
Great day of cricket that was.....Shabash Bangladesh...

[Tehsin]

I think the majority of this board deserves bragigng rights for the first two days. What happens from here is on god's hands but here's why I am proud of you:

- You either wanted the 3 pacers from day one or supported the notion
- we have either called for or supported having a shrink. I don't know if it's the shrink or simply the ZILLIONS of meetings they had after the last match. Remember this, we had two extra days to cram in more meetings.
- We have stood behind Pilot. Mostly because of his attitude despite his stupendous bowling rotation. Guess what, our captain is learning ladies and gentlemen. He took the new bowl in the 84th over, not 120.

I'll come back with more bragging rights. We need to cram it in before the match starts cause you never know what our batsmen will do next (once beaten, twice beaten, thrice beatn ... now simply shy)

[Shubho]

...we could bat throughout Day 3, that would be awesome. I don't care how many runs we score, but if we can stick at the crease until stumps tomorrow, bloody hell, I'll doff my hat to every one of our players, even the older shmucks.

Ideal scenario would be for the two openers to stick around at least until we have reduced the deficit to say single figures. Hannan can go then, I don't mind. Rokon should stay until we have a lead of 20. Then Habibul and Ashraful can build a solid partnership of say 100 runs. Alok comes in when Habib loses it after reaching his 50 odd. Alok and Ashraful build another strong partnership. Ashraful makes his second test century. Alok makes a 50. Ashraful then offers a simple catch...momentary lack of concentration. No matter...our man, Pilot comes in. The scoring slows considerably, but the scoreboard's still ticking. At this point we've built up a nice 200-250 run lead. Alok then returns to the pavilion after an lbw decision. Pilot offers great support to the tail. Moni shows he hasn't quite lost it yet...the geriatric ward can wait a little longer. Nonetheless, he goes after making 20. Manju comes in and hits some lusty blows. Pilot loses his calm, and goes out for a solid 40 or so. Manju and Tapash continue by playing some One Day stuff, throwing the bat at anything that moves. They add a good 30 runs. Talha then arrives and goes for 5. No worries. We've built up a lead of just over 300 runs. Awesome!

Day 4: West Indies all out for 86.


AND THEN WE ALL WAKE UP AND REALIZE GOD NEVER LOVED US THAT MUCH.

[Nasif]

We don't have to win the match, just if we can drag the game until day 4 would be good. This test will have result. It won't be a draw for sure. If we can survive full 3 sessions then the game would be competitive.

Otherwise same old. I would suggest everyone not to blow up the ballon.

[Tehsin]

If I didn't know my players, I'd be floating on your dreams. Good one.

[Pundit]

There is only one way this game can end on the 4rth day (atleast late afternoon) and have BD as the victor -

BD posts a 300+ score, WI loses an early wicket, but lose more nerves, and collapse to 150 - 200. Does anybody know (Tehsin the Chitta-gonian) how this pitch will play on the 4rth innings ??

If the game does go into the 5th day, then obviously, its anybodies game !!

All this will only matter if we don't lose more that a wicket before lunch on the 3rd day.

[Edited on 17-12-2002 by Pundit]

[Tehsin]

The only disappointment was Habibul Bashar and Enamul Hoque's amateurish presence in the slips. Bashar let off Jacobs in his 40s and Enamul floored Gayle at third slip early in the morning. But most importantly Bashar's peculiar stance exposed the fact that he lacked the basics to be placed in such a specialised position.


(It's probably the age - you see, the young players will listen to the coach, they are eager to learn, they will listen to the physio if that's what it take sbut this two are 'accomplished', so it's not much for them. However, Sumon is bound to get back. )

[Sham]

Sumon is up for a big knock. I am really counting on it this time. Maybe a second hundred at Chittagong? Also, Rokon, Ash and Sanwar need to play some substantial innings, not the 26s but the 70s. Thats what we need. Everyone who gets a start needs to go on. If that happens, we can take a sizeable lead. Lets not get too carried away though, we are gonna lose this game and probably tonight. If we drag it to a fourth day, that will be awesome!!

[James90]

Sham's been here for half the time I have and he's already got as many posts. Now if anyone deserves Posting Freak it would be one hell of a contest between Sham and tehsin

[Tehsin]

Watch it you little senior member you.

[Nasif]

Thats why I said don't blow up the ballon too much. It has burst. At least we aren't loosing by an innings. And thats positive. Except Bashar, he has lost it completely. He needs to play in national league to get this form back. WTF is wrong with this guy? How many times can you get out cheaply?????

[Edited on 18-12-2002 by nasif]

[James90]

Didn't Attapattu fall for 8 ducks in a row to start his test career

Attapattu was a batter
but Attapattu's bat was battered
so Attaputta bought a better bat
now Attapattu is a better batter

[bangla_amar]

LOL, Hfan!