matter of just 8 runs.................!!!

[vv_sunil]

Matter of just 8 runs………………..!!!!

Bangladesh have failed to score 8 more runs in the first innings, which eventually cost the match to them. Is that 8 more runs such important to decide the fate of the test? Yes, I think yes…. There was lot of impact on that 8 runs and that was the turning point of a match, which was going to prove something good for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh was doing well since from the first ball of the second day. It was really an achievement to them to take 8 wickets in less than 6 hours of so called strong batting line-up. Then, a good opening partnership, (forget the mini collapse to 54/3), followed by inspirational batting performance by Mohammed Ashraful, and the good support extended to him by Bashar, Aftab, Mashud..etc. They would have been 420/9 or some thing like that by the end of the third day. Here it comes the importance of 8 runs, which they ultimately failed to score……and to save the test.

Everything was going perfect, but I think the management has not taken the things so seriously and failed to frame a strategy to save the test match. Their ultimate goal at that time was to bat and score runs as much as they can, but not set a target to save the test. Yes, I still believe it was achievable if the management and players had applied themselves a little more and at the end it would have been a memorable test for Bangladesh.

What an inspiration transformed to batsman after restricting India 540 (with a score of 334/2, and dravid, tendulkar, ganguly, laxman… still remaining, everybody was expecting a huge score of 650/6 or some thing like that just before the end of the 2nd day and all set to take 1 / 2 wickets of Bangladesh for 20/30 runs by the end of the 2nd day. And the expectation was that India is going to win this match on 3rd match, defeating Bangladesh by innings and huge margin) Here is the achievement. They transformed the enthusiam produced by the bowlers to batsmen and after a long long time, their openers have played smartly and almost survived the last session. It was the wrong decision to send mashrafe as the night watchman, who is having lack of match practice was surely not a best choice for the job. I think manjural islam rana was the man to be there at that moment.

Look at the facts, they batted well in the first innings in such a situation where there is not much tremendous pressure on them and the other batsmen followed good opening partnership. It helped others to play confidently and score runs. Ashraful was wonderful and it proved he can play well, but need a good platform. Moreover, they batted second in the innings, which means they were in the filed for a long time and suddenly they got inspired by the bowlers. That took-off the pressure from them and they responded well by batting solidly.

Now how the matter of 8 runs comes in to the picture? Because they failed to score 8 more runs in the first innings and so, failed to avoid follow-on. The impact of follow-on created mental block in the minds of batsmen again and they suddenly becomes dead under negative thinking. They suddenly become the victims of under pressure and given-up the match before the start of the second innings. Nobody was ready to apply themselves and make a fight there. Everybody was doing just a formality as it was very clear from their body language that they ‘don’t want to bat’, thinking the result is inevitable as usual. I think that kind of feeling killed all their skills and dead under negative feeling.

Then what would have been the situation, if they score 8 more runs in the first innings? Certainly, it would have been a draw. Yes, management failed here. They would have asked mashud and ashraftul to stay in the creese till they cross the 341 runs marks and it was possible. If somebody fails, rafique is there. Okey, don’t worry both of them failed, and also talha. But why was that suicidal run-out? That was cruel. The test match slipped out then between the lips and cups. Some kind of casual attitude was developed after ashraful’s century. both ashraful and aftagb was shaky after the century and aftab paid the cost for it. The other batsmen followed seems to be very relaxed, may they were thinking that they have already achieved their goal. They failed to keep in mind that they are capable of saving this test and resulted some poor play in the end .

If they scored 8 more runs in that innings, I was sure that Bangladesh would capable of scoring more than 400 runs in the innings. It means India would have to resume their 2nd innings in the late hours of third play. Then what? They will try to score around 300 runs by 4th day lunch, for that they would have to play aggressively. It means it will give the opportunity to the Bangladesh to bowl them out in the second innings, then the morality of the team would go up again as they bowled-out the world’s best 2nd team twice in a test match. Moral boosting performance… confidence growing again.. fans cheering.. appreciation from all around the corner…. Yes, they have to survive one and half more days to survive the test… with all support from the corner… their batsman in the filed with straight head again…. Oh…what a finish???

But all these ruined just because of 8 run….here it is the importance of 8 run….. it is merely just 8 run…. But what an importance…. It took away everything from Bangladesh and they are still in the back seat where they are in since a long time. But who is responsible for this debacle? I think AFTAB AHMED…. he should have been more careful at that moment and should try to play a longer innings there……yes all the excuses are there to save thim. But still………………………….oh no…Bangladesh lost another test, yet again by innings and 81 runs!!!!!!!!!!!!!