Bangladesh in Australia

[Donny]

Bangladesh eye victory in low-scoring match
Wisden Cricinfo staff - June 28, 2003

Alok Kapali starred with both bat and ball as Bangladesh gained a slight upperhand over Queensland Academy of Sport Invitation at the close of the second day's play. In a low-scoring match which looks certain to end inside three days, Bangladesh declared their first innings at 203 for 9 – just two runs in the lead – and then restricted the Queensland side to 153 for 7.

Kapali top-scored for Bangladesh, hitting six fours and a six in a spunky 55. Then, he caused plenty of damage with his legspinners, running through Queensland ASI's middle order to return figures of 4 for 24.

Resuming their innings at 86 for 3, Bangladesh were quickly reduced to 112 to 6, with James Hopes's medium-pace doing most of the damage. He snared the first two wickets of the day, dismissing Al Sahariar (4) and Mohammad Ashraful (39). When Damien MacKenzie, right-arm fast-medium bowler, dismissed Sanwar Hossain for 6, a Bangladesh lead looked unlikely, but Kapali and Khaled Masud, the wicketkeeper, stitched together a 60-run partnership for the seventh wicket which put the innings back on track.

Kapali was finally dismissed by Hopes, who finished with figures of 4 for 35, but Bangladesh managed to sneak ahead of the Queensland ASI total. The Queensland team's opening pair saw off Bangladesh's new-ball attack, adding 54 for the first wicket, but the problems for the home team began soon after. Despite a spirited 52 from Daniel Payne, the right-handed opener, Queensland ASI lost wickets at regular intervals. Kapali ripped through the middle order, and among his victims was Nathan Hauritz (9) and Payne.

The eighth-wicket pair of MacKenzie and Lee Carseldine saw off the last six overs, but Bangladesh still had reason to be pleased. If their batsmen keep their wits about them, Bangladesh could well make a winning start to their Australian tour.

[Donny]

The QAS were dismissed for 176 with Carseldine undefeated on 31. Hossain took 3/25 and Islam, 2/37.

Bangladesh, in their second innings are 4/96 after 41 overs, chasing 175 to win. Opening batsman, Sarker, is on 33 and Kapali is 25. They added 45 before Sarker was dismissed and are now 5/96.

They require 79 runs in 40 overs.

[Donny]

Big problems for Bangladesh. They now require 35 to win at 2.19 per over. Sound easy ? They are 9 down, that's the problem.

[Donny]

Disappointing result for the Bangers and for the upcoming Tests against the Aussies. They lost by 30 runs.

A win would've added some much needed interest to their tour but QAS youngsters, Damien McKenzie, 3/28 and Chris Simpson, 2/15 had other ideas.

[Donny]

The Comm. Bank Cricket Academy won the toss and batted in their 3 day match against Bangladesh at the Allan Border Field, today.

Matthew Innes, an 18 y.o. left hander, scored 128 n.o. and 20 y.o. Rhett Lockyear made 90 before they declared at 3/258.

At stumps, The Bangers are on 1/53.

[Donny]

Prototype says:

This morning on the radio I heard that ABC, and Channel 9 (I think it was nine) were planning on broadcasting the up coming Test matches. I was wondering, is that true? It was on the sports news of 101.7 HO FM down here in Hobart. I don't know if I was awake, or asleep listening to it, but it would be good to see it live on T.V.
_________________
"The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost."
-George Shultz

[Donny]

Bangladeshi opener Javed Omar (59) added 146 with Habibul Bashar before a tumble of wickets.

Bashar went within an ace of being the first of his countrymen to score a century on Australian soil as 6 wickets fell for 55 before a declaration came at 7/232, 26 behind.

Callum Ferguson, an 18 y.o., took 2/5 from 5 overs and Aaron nye took 2/40 from 18.

After 8 overs of their second innings, the CBCA is 1/27

[Donny]

At stumps, the CBCA is on 4/99.

Bangladesh is in a good position to win but must take early wickets tomorrow.

[HAL]

Are you a good position to win but must take early wickets tomorrow ?

[Donny]

Well they didn't take any early wickets as Nye (89 n.o.) and Ferguson (48 n.o.) added 131 before a sporting declaration.

Bangladesh needed 230 runs from 71 overs to win.

As things stand, they need 19 from 26 balls with 4 wickets remaining. Kapali (44) and Mahmud (11) have put on 34 and are hanging in.

[HAL]

Do you mean your name is things stand they need 19 from 26 balls with 4 wickets remaining ?

[Donny]

Kapali out !! They need 16 from 18 balls. 3 wickets in hand.

[Donny]

Now they need 14 from the last over. Seems unlikely, the way the last two overs have gone.

Now 11 from 2 balls. Looks like they decided on a draw. 10 needed from the last ball.

Well, now I see they are bowling the 72nd over. Incorrect info before. Must have been 71 overs minimum. First ball - a wicket.

Now 8/228. 1 ball to come, 2 to win !!

Mahmud smacks a 4. They win !!!!

[Donny]

Bangladesh eke out thrilling victory
Wisden Cricinfo staff - July 5, 2003


Bangladesh set themselves up for the daunting task of a Test series against Australia with a thrilling victory over the Commonwealth Bank Academy at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. Set 230 to win, they overcame a mid-innings wobble to eke home with just six minutes, and two wickets, to spare.

Mohammad Ashraful anchored the innings with a classy 61, while Alok Kapali chipped in with a pugnacious 44. But it was the two senior men, the Khaleds - Mashud and Mahmud - who did the damage late on with some adventurous shotmaking. Both made 28, and Mahmud - the captain - finished things off with a four over mid-on.

The result was set up by the academy declaring their innings at 203 for 4 earlier in the day. Resuming at 99 for 4, Aaron Nye and Callum Ferguson were largely untroubled in the morning session. Nye hit three big sixes and was unbeaten on 89 when the declaration came, with Ferguson not out on 48.

Bangladesh started poorly, with Mark Cleary nipping out both Javed Omar and Habibul Bashar early in the innings. Ashraful put the innings back on track, but his dismissal - caught behind off Steven Magoffin - left Bangladesh in dire straits at 134 for 5. But Kapali, Mashud and Mahmud then combined to see it home, upping the run-rate to decisive effect after a period of consolidation. For the Academy, Peter Worthington took 3 for 31.

The declarations were pivotal in ensuring a result, but Bangladesh won't care too much. For a team starved of any sort of success, even against the likes of Canada, this is a massive shot in the arm. Mind you, it's Australia that await just up the road.

[Donny]

Whatmore expects Darwin pitch to be slow
Lynn McConnell - July 7, 2003


It is a subject of feverish speculation as to how the portable pitch to be used in Darwin for Bangladesh's historic international matches there will behave. Dav Whatmore, Bangadesh's coach, believes that it might be a slow one.

Speaking to ABC Radio, Whatmore said: "It's a drop-in pitch. [There] seems to be some indication it might be slow but we'll never really know until you start playing."

Bangladesh will not have to wait long to find out. On Friday they take on the Chief Minister's XI, less than a week after their two-wicket win over the Commonwealth Bank Academy side. If Whatmore's prognosis about the pitch is confirmed, they will face the Australian new-ball attack with somewhat more confidence than you'd expect from international cricket's fledglings.

Meanwhile the Chief Minister, Clare Martin, has announced the team to play Bangladesh. The local side has been bolstered by the inclusion of Michael Clarke, who will captain the team, and Australian allrounder Nathan Hauritz, who played for Queensland's Academy XI in Bangladesh's first tour game.

"I wanted to give Territorians an opportunity to play against Bangladesh," said Martin, "and I know a squad of local cricketers have been training in preparation for the match."

James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's chief executive, said that the decision to include two CA-contracted players would help generate further interest in the game. Clarke and Hauritz have recently returned from the tour to West Indies and represent Australia's next generation of players, having already played for the national side in one-day intenationals.

Martin also renewed a call for volunteers, inviting Territorians to grab the opportunity to be involved in the staging of international cricket. She said that each volunteer would have an opportunity to watch the cricket after performing their duties, which would take up only three hours of their time. Apart from free entry, they would also receive a free polo shirt and hat, lunch and an opportunity to be involved in one of Territory's major sporting events.

Chief Minister's XI squad
Michael Clarke (captain), Darren Treumer (vice-captain), Terry Bayly, Nick Berry, Anthony Dent, Mark Hatton, Brad Hatton, Nathan Hauritz, Tim Knox, Adrian McAdam, Ian Redpath, Ken Skewes, Ken Vowles, Ashley Williams.