a few notes from 2nd ODI

[al Furqaan]

didn't watch the match, nor even the highlights but heres a few things.

too many run outs, 3 of top 4 got run out and another lower order batter got run out. we need to work that stuff out. it was a huge issue today every batsman scored some runs and only got run out trying to push the RR, and we still ended up with a more than healthy 320.

the first 30 overs should have yieled 20-30 more runs. we really should have scored about 350 on this wicket. ashraful will rue missing out. hope he gets some more 50s in the coming 3 matches. another ton would be magic.

ash batted quite well in the middle order in ODI 1. he scored 43 runs from singles (i.e all runs via RBW) and if you minus his 14 boundary balls, he faced 89 deliveries. thats a strike rate very near 50 (48.31 to be exact). now from the middle overs batting thread, i mentioned that the greatest batsman, Tendulkar, had a SR of 78 overall (and singles SR of 49) when he bats in the middle order (positions 3-7). so ash's figure from the first match was quite good in that regard, even though it appears he was overly reliant on boundaries to score his 103*.

sakib, was a beast. he was overly reliant on boundaries, but had to be. our RR was far too low in the first 30 overs, and given the fact that zimbabwe scored 271 in just 46 overs, indicates how essential every four and six off his blade was. bowled beautifully as well.

enam bowled OK, his overall econ was under the zim teams total RR so that was a plus point. hopefully he and razzak can sort out the issues we have with the 2nd specialist ODI spinner (sakib is first now).

raqib and mushy did well but scoring at a rapid rate. good for them. i would to see another 100 runs come of ashraful's bat this series at least, and some more runs from all the top order batsmen. tamim did well to get back to back 50s, and a century would be nice, but not necessary.

i would like us to restrict zimbabwe to around 200 runs like we did the first game, but that might tough given how flat these wickets are.

*****************************

beating zimbabwe 4 straight times, twice in crunch time, indicates that they won earlier against us despite us being at least one step above them in class. those bowling wickets took our edge away allowing them to get in the game.

taibu and mupariwa are out, but we are missing mash - the world's best opening ODI bowler, and an in form rubel, which i think would cancel each other out and bring us back to the current balance, which is tilted quite heavily in our favor.

[godzilla]

->Yes the runouts were really silly except the one of muhamadulla ... Tamim ran Junaid out ... Sakib ran Tamim out and himself out by not looking at mushy but a good kncok ( this tamim man he is becoming the runout king lol poor junaid i bet he curses at him after each match cause most of the time he gets runout for tamim lolzzzz)

-> one of the zimbabewn commentator was somewat annoying ( while talkin screams from no where for no reason sometimes and goes back to low pitch voice which i found extremly annoying)

-> the first 30 overs ... yes i kinda agree with you on that one but then again its better to keep wicket then loose it while trying to get boundaries

-> Ashraful actualy batted sensabily ... bad luck for him that he had one good ball to get out ohh well better luk next match KIDDO

[Orpheus]

asaad bhai, take out your first line... lol.. then more respect for your analysis.

I was fortunate enough to watch every single ball.

Apart from yes/no yes/no confusion leading to the run outs... running between wickets were actually good.. I really didn't see much problem with our batting. Two dropped chances sakib gave was when he tried to be overly cute - reverse sweeping and then scooping..those were unnecessary... he should just stick to his comfort zone....playing all balls on the leg side...

Sakib's run out wasn't because we were trying to up the run rate. It was becuase he wanted the strike....

and I thoguht we played first 30 overs really well.. it should always be like this.. keep all wickets in hand for first 30 overs and get around 130+ then.. play a 2020 knock. I thought 140 at 30th over mark was a really good score.

I hope we can repeat the feat in next game. Because anyting less than 280 and we may lose.

[Nasif]

Watched the highlights, and I thought Aus was playing instead of BD. In ODI if you keep wickets in hand, you can always double your score in last 20 overs. Thats exactly what happened today. They had 140ish score around 30; which turned into 320 in 50. Sakib was explosive. I haven't seen him bat like that. Two chances were excusable because he utilized his life and got to 100. He seemed to be genuinely pissed after not getting a runner (which is completely unsporting behavior from Zim). Today the anger worked fine for him; but he should be able to contain emotional outburst and focus completely on this batting.

After all, he is the Ice Man.

[Imteaz]

Average.

[Blah]

Originally Posted by al Furqaan
didn't watch the match, nor even the highlights but heres a few things.

Sometimes you just need to watch the games to make any reasonably good observation.

At least one of those run outs was the result of the ball flicking of the baller's finger and hitting the non stricker's end. Even a batsmen with the best response time will get out in that kind of freak situation.

What you also did not notice is that sakib got life twice when two of the most easiest catches were dropped. Also two wickets fell as a result of 2 extremely good catches.

I will have to blame Tamim for at least 2 run-outs, he is extremely poor in making calls and running between the wickets.

The wicket was dead rubber. I believe even Bermuda can score 200+ runs against Australia in this wicket. So, expecting something like that from bangladesh would be unreasonable.

I personally prefer the slow run rates in the first 25-30 overs because it means players are taking less risks and less likely to get out. In the past we have been in positions many times where we lost wickets early and never recovered from it.

I think this was a very good game by our team. It was always going to be close on a 50 over match against the home team in a batting friendly pitch. As long as they winning I have no problems with anything.

There are 10 minutes highlights available posted somewhere in this forum.

[al Furqaan]

i did notice sakib getting dropped twice, and surving a possible run out chance.

but his chances came after he was well set, so it was more a product of him being overly cute rather than inability or zimbabwe bowling unplayable balls. how many times players have been dropped by us only to score a "brilliant" double century?

of course a chanceless knock like ash's first ODI ton is what is good and what we want, but credit shouldn't be taken away from sakib who played a match winning captains knock. and bowled like a gem too.

[Baundule]

The absence of Taibu is good for us. He can single handedly win against us.
Runout problem will not be solved, as long as Tamim does not change his attitude.

[PoorFan]

RBW was the main problem, next come fielding and last is bowling I guess. Batting was good.

[al Furqaan]

Originally Posted by Baundule
The absence of Taibu is good for us. He can single handedly win against us.
Runout problem will not be solved, as long as Tamim does not change his attitude.

taibu is good because he is consistent. this series is headed for a 5-0 or 4-1 result, and taibu could make it 3-2 at best, but nothing more. he is simply a very good player. he doesn't have that "x" factor that ash and sakib have. that factor that, even when all the odds are stacked against you, he stands up and says "i will take this game away from you because only i can". that absolutely destructive character in which they can just demolish any bowling attack at will and crush the opposition's manhood and will to fight.

[BANFAN]

As much as we can criticize players getting angry and play agreesive to vent it. Like Ash against price, Shakib at Utseya etc.

I see a postive aspect of it as well. I think that's good to build attitude & charachter in the field. I liked it as long as they reply through performance rathar than in non cricketing ways and getting into trouble. These are small lessons of playing according to one's intent. That too in a match condition. This can be precious pieces of lessons for the entire team & lift the team to another level.

Shakib played well, but he was too desperate to hit every ball, that isn't at all good. We all know how it looks when you go wrong/opponents make no mistake, in T20 against WI & T20 WC. If he could do that without giving 2/3 chances of getting out, I would have taken it as a part of his skill, but once you succeed through repeated mistakes of your weak opponent; it's no more skill, that's luck. I never like a game of chance, when you have the option of dictating oucomes by your skills. I am not over whelmed with this century; but well a century is a century; intentions were good but lacked a little in shot selection/to control emotions. But well played.

I'm getting a feeling that; we are travelling into a different level/era of the game, as a team.

[LateCut]

Run outs are a chronic problem for us. This is the very reason we lost the T20 in WI. We are making bad decisions. Most of the time we getting out not going for the 2nd or 3rd. It is the attempted quick singles that are causing our doom. That means our runners are not backing up and striker/runner do not have a good understanding. There is time honored rule on who can call for a single based on the trajectory of the ball after being hit. If the ball passes behind the wicket keeper, runner makes the call. On the other hand, goes past the umpire than it is the striker's call. If the ball is hit in the cover, extra-cover and midwicket region things are somewhat more subjective. But in this case, both batsmen has good visibility of the ball's eventual destination. Therefore, a consensus is needed and be easily made based on fielders location and their agility.

[Eshen]

As a batsman, Sakib is riding his luck, like Ashraful used to do back in the time. What is even worse is that Bangladesh batting order is very defendant on him. We will be in deep trouble the day Sakib does not turn out to be lucky.

[Rabz]

The run out issue needs to be sorted out as soon as possible. Even though it was good to see the boys could give a finishing tone to their innings, but we have to remember that good teams will not let us get back to the match from those mistakes we made.

Sakib could have been out for 59 and the whole scenario could have been different. Those 3-40 runs made a world of difference. I'm not here to worry about the hyposthesis', but I'm sure the boys are matured enough to notice that too and apply themselves in the next game.

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by Eshen
As a batsman, Sakib is riding his luck, like Ashraful used to do back in the time...

So you too are trying to burst his bubble?

Just by luck one can get a knock or two that would be really good innings. But to lead all batters in average one need to have something more than luck. Ashraful never led on average runs. Shakib is doing it.

[Eshen]

Ashraful made scores of 100, 94, and 58 in three consecutive matches riding his luck. Sakib is having an extended run of luck, may be because oppositions he played in recent past really suck in fielding.

I am not saying Sakib always rode his luck and made his runs that way, but that's what he is doing since WI tour.

[Blah]

Originally Posted by Eshen
As a batsman, Sakib is riding his luck, like Ashraful used to do back in the time. What is even worse is that Bangladesh batting order is very defendant on him. We will be in deep trouble the day Sakib does not turn out to be lucky.

The first game Sakib didn't turn out to be "lucky" and we won.

Even though cricket is a team sports, it often needs one or two players to perform better than the rest to win the game. Those "one or two" players are often the best players in the team.

This is hardly a new concept.

On the contrary I think Tamim - Naeem - Raqib all has the potential to win the game for us any day with or without sakib or ashraful.

It is true we used to depend on Ash to perform to win game for us - this is not the case anymore.

[Blah]

Originally Posted by Eshen
Ashraful made scores of 100, 94, and 58 in three consecutive matches riding his luck. Sakib is having an extended run of luck, may be because oppositions he played in recent past really suck in fielding.

I am not saying Sakib always rode his luck and made his runs that way, but that's what he is doing since WI tour.

Whats your definition of "luck"? Good performance?

[Zunaid]

Originally Posted by Blah
Whats your definition of "luck"? Good performance?

This is luck. Followed by talent.

[Eshen]

Originally Posted by Blah
Whats your definition of "luck"? Good performance?

No, opposition dropping your skiers that you offer so often.

[Beamer]

Originally Posted by Eshen
Ashraful made scores of 100, 94, and 58 in three consecutive matches riding his luck. Sakib is having an extended run of luck, may be because oppositions he played in recent past really suck in fielding.

I am not saying Sakib always rode his luck and made his runs that way, but that's what he is doing since WI tour.

Certainly luck favors at some point with anyone who is having a purple patch. It also favors the brave and by his own words, which Sakib is on record saying " positive frame of mind" is behind his recent success. His two lives last game was a direct result of two complacent ugly shots. One a reverse sweep, and the other, btw the Ash scoop shot. Both cases the ball ballooned up and aided by sheer luck, the fielders dropped it on both cases. He should be positive. Just avoid those luck riding shots. He is in good enough form to fetch runs without attempting lower percentage cricket shots. I think he is smart enough to realize it and not repeat that.

[Blah]

Originally Posted by Zunaid
This is luck. Followed by talent.

Oh this is one of my favorite innings of all time. We still lost by a huge margin (I think). He did get out like an idiot.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Originally Posted by Beamer
the Ash scoop shot.

No one, NO ONE plays the Ash scoop as well or as bad as Ash does.

[Blah]

Originally Posted by Eshen
No, opposition dropping your skiers that you offer so often.

It happens all the time with every single cricket team.

Dropped catches and wrong decisions made by the umpire (which ever way it goes) is part of cricket. If you call that luck then we are yet to see a game were any cricket team won by performance.

Everyone got lucky and won.

[Beamer]

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
No one, NO ONE plays the Ash scoop as well or as bad as Ash does.

When you live by the sword, you are also destined to be killed by it. No surprises. For example : If your bread and butter shot is the drive through the covers, not only will it bring you runs, it will also be your downfall with balls flying to fielders at cover, point ..