BC World Cup Bulletin: Shafiul guides Bangladesh to crucial victory

[Miraz]

World Cup 2011

Bulletin

Shafiul guides Bangladesh to crucial victory
25 February 2011

A career best 4 for 21 by young paceman Shafiul Islam saved the blushes of Bangladesh as they defeated Ireland by 27 runs in the crucial world cup match at Mirpur Sher E Bangla Stadium in Mirpur today. Ireland was well on course to repeat their heroics of World Cup 2007 at the halfway stage of the match as they reduced an ill disciplined Bangladesh batting unit to a paltry 205 in front of a full house. However, the hosts had the last laugh as the bowling unit led by Shafiul Islam held their nerves and kept fighting till the end to secure a vital victory.

Bangladesh started the game in a very positive way as Tamim Iqbal blasted the Irish opening bowlers Boyd Rankin and Trent Johnston all over the park with some typically aggressive stroke play. After losing the early plot to Bangladesh openers, Ireland stuck to plan B and took the pace off the ball through Andre Botha and Trent Johnston which reaped reward as Botha ripped through the Bangladesh top order.

Imrul was first to go when he overbalanced to a leg side delivery of Botha with wicketkeeper Niall Obrien standing up. Niall's fine glove work gave Ireland first breakthrough against the run of the play and they seized on the opportunity to strangle the irresponsible Bangladeshi batsmen. The matter turned worse for the hosts as Zunaid soon followed after a combination of lazy running and a direct hit by Ed Joyce and Bangladesh lost the early momentum gained through the fireworks of Tamim Iqbal. Frustrated by the lack of pace, Tamim tried to break the shackle but his wild slice could only reach as far as point where safe hands of Irish skipper William Porterfield made no mistake and Bangladesh were reduced to 68 for 3 in 11.1 overs from a commanding position of 49 for 0 in 5 overs.

Bangladesh relied on skipper Shakib Al Hasan to bail them out of the situation, but he played the part of a gracious host when he offered a simple return catch to Andre Botha immediately after getting dropped at point by Irish counterpart William Porterfield. The situation was tailor made for two resolute batsmen of the side, Mushfiqur Rahim and Raqibul Hasan and they obliged with a valuable 61 run 5th wicket partnership.

The key partnership between Raqibul and Mushfiqur was broken by an impressive young talent slow left arm bowler George Dockrell who lured Mushfiqur to play against the spin and offer a simple catch to short fine leg. Dockrell soon doubled his tally as the enigmatic Mohammad Ashraful, recalled to boost batting line-up, played a get-me-out shot and played the action replay of Mushfiqur's dismissal for the fans who missed the earlier dismissal.



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[Eshen]

IMO, it's ridiculous that Tamim got the MoM, no one out there deserved it more than Shafi!

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by Eshen
IMO, it's ridiculous that Tamim got the MoM, no one out there deserved it more than Shafi!

Could not agree more. He should have been the MOM.

[Naimul_Hd]

Even Ashrafool was more deserving player than Tamim.

[sar2005]

I left below comments in another thread, but yes, the poor guy thought he is MOM when Athar called him and talked as Man Of the Moment.

Just after that 14 runs over from Ashraful, the equation looked like -

End of over 33 (14 runs) Ireland 140/5
(66 runs required from 17 overs with 5 wickets on hand)
(RR: 4.24, RRR: 3.88)
KJ O'Brien 33* (29b 3x4 1x6)
AC Botha 6* (15b 1x4)

IRE needed only 41 runs in last 10 overs with 4 wickets in hand. This was brilliant to see how Shafiul's bowling was talking at that time. I still can not understand how TIK was selected as MOM. Shafi's final spell was 6-1-10-4!! Dream run!!

[MohammedC]

Originally Posted by Eshen
IMO, it's ridiculous that Tamim got the MoM, no one out there deserved it more than Shafi!

I agree Shafiul should have got the MoM.

I feel sorry for Shafiul for misunderstanding Athar Ali when he was interviewed after the match. Athar started by saying something like " Here is the Man of the moment" and poor Shafiul innocently thought he was going to be the man of the match. I just hope shafiul don't feel ashamed as I clearly see he has made an innocent mistake.

[Zobair]

Tamim appears to have hurt his finger taking that crucial catch...hope its nothing serious!

[MohammedC]

Here is the video of shafi's interview by Athar.

[Nafi]

The stupid idiots didnt give shafi the MOM

At least tamim MOM scored points for my fantasy team

[shuziburo]

Originally Posted by Eshen
IMO, it's ridiculous that Tamim got the MoM, no one out there deserved it more than Shafi!

The entire stadium, including TIK and SAH thought so, too.

[allrounder]

I think they saw that Shafiul might have difficulty in speaking English, so they let Tamim have it.