Bangladesh’s strategy to shake up the batting line-up in pursuit of a mammoth 398 runs in the lone Test match Afghanistan remained the highlight of day four.
Host Bangladesh are on the verge of a humiliating defeat against Afghanistan, who are playing only their third Test.
However, pushing aside all discussions, Bangladesh’s decision to bat with an unconventional strategy, that has failed horribly, took center stage.
Bangladesh at the end of a rain-hit day four needed another 262 to avoid defeat with four wickets in hand.
The Bangladesh think-tank had the clear intention of keeping the left- and right-hand batting combination to disturb the Afghanistan bowlers.
The Tigers first promoted Liton Das, from No 3 to the opening stand, in place of Soumya Sarkar.
@ACBofficials wicketkeeper-batsman Afsar Zazai said their batting has made the difference as they stand on the brink of an historic win against a better-ranked @BCBtigers in the lone Test match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.https://t.co/Cvz78Cv8Gt#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #ACB
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 8, 2019
Following Liton’s departure for nine, in what was a surprise move, Mosaddek Hossain was sent to bat at three instead of his regular place at the lower-order.
When Mosaddek perished adding just 12, Mushfiqur Rahim came out to bat at No 4 instead of the middle-order to maintain the combination with opener Shadman Islam, who had held one end of the crease.
Mushfiq added only 23 to the board.
Mominul Haque arrived to bat as the No 5 and after the fall of two more wickets, Soumya came out to bat at No 8.
According to Bangladesh captain Shakib al Hasan, the strategy was driven from the basic idea to stop off-spinner Mohammad Nabi from causing damage.
Shakib said the plan was set based on their experience in longer-version cricket, and in order to chase down the massive total which Bangladesh do not have the experience of.
Rain played spoilsport while @BCBtigers' batting struggles continued as @ACBofficials inched closer to a Test win against a better-ranked side at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Sunday.https://t.co/TX5XhKFl0R#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #ACB
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 8, 2019
The highest successful chase for Bangladesh, 217, came against the West Indies in 2009.
“The thing is they have one pace bowler [Yamin Ahmadzai] and Nabi, who will bowl from one end. They will hold the pacer to get the ball rough. If you notice, the left-right batting combination did not get Nabi in his first spell whereas he had got a wicket in his first spell in the first innings,” said Shakib to the media at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Sunday.
“We planned this last night [Saturday] to be honest. Mosaddek was sent out to bat at the top because he looked to be most comfortable against spin in the first innings. Also, he has the ability and experience to score big in first-class cricket, has four or five 200-plus runs innings under his belt. To chase 400 we needed batsmen like him [Mosaddek] who have the experience of scoring big,” the Bangladesh captain added.
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib emphasized that the strategy would have looked good if the execution was successful.
The 32-year old said there was nothing wrong with the strategy.
“We have not been successful because the batsmen who needed to score couldn’t deliver. There was nothing much wrong with the plan. A batsman to me can bat at any number. We had Soumya batting at No 8 and he had the option to face new ball if batsmen before him could have stayed longer. You will have to bat 130 overs minimum to chase 400. It is never easy to bat these many overs,” said Shakib.
“I even discussed if we should send two right-handed batsmen to open and wanted to send Mosaddek to open. We have jointly come to this combination strategy and came to the field [Sunday]. Everyone in the team had the belief. If this was my sole decision, Mosaddek and Liton would have opened,” Shakib informed.
ONLY TEST, DAY 4
AFGHANISTAN 1ST INNINGS R B
Ibrahim c Mahmudullah b Taijul 21 69
Ihsanullah b Taijul 9 36
Rahmat c Soumya b Nayeem 102 187
Shahidi c Soumya b Mahmudullah 14 32
Asghar c Mushfiq b Taijul 92 174
Nabi b Nayeem 0 3
Zazai b Taijul 41 115
Rashid c & b Miraz 51 61
Qais c Mominul b Shakib 9 15
Yamin c Soumya b Shakib 0 7
Zahir not out 0 5
Extras (lb 1, nb 2) 3
Total (117 Overs) 342 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-19 (Ihsanullah), 2-48 (Ibrahim), 3-77 (Shahidi), 4-197 (Rahmat), 5-197 (Nabi), 6-278 (Asghar), 7-299 (Zazai), 8-322 (Qais), 9-327 (Yamin), 10-342 (Rashid)
Bowling
Taijul 41-5-116-4, Shakib 22-1-64-2, Miraz 28-5-73-1, Nayeem 13-0-43-2, Mahmudullah 4-0-9-1, Soumya 4-0-26-0, Mominul 4-0-9-0, Mosaddek 1-0-1-0
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B
Shadman c Zazai b Yamin 0 4
Soumya lbw b Nabi 17 66
Liton b Rashid 33 66
Mominul c Asghar b Nabi 52 71
Shakib lbw b Rashid 11 20
Mushfiq c Ibrahim b Rashid 0 2
Mahmudullah b Rashid 7 13
Mosaddek not out 48 82
Miraz b Qais 11 31
Taijul b Nabi 14 58
Nayeem lbw b Rashid 7 12
Extras (b 4, lb 1) 5
Total (70.5 Overs) 205 all out
1-0 (Shadman), 2-38 (Soumya), 3-54 (Liton), 4-88 (Shakib), 5-88 (Mushfiq), 6-104 (Mahmudullah), 7-130 (Mominul Haque), 8-146 (Miraz), 9-194 (Taijul), 10-205 (Nayeem)
Bowling
Yamin 10-2-21-1, Nabi 24-6-56-3, Zahir 9-1-46-0, Rashid 19.5-3-55-5, Qais 8-2-22-1
AFGHANISTAN 2ND INNINGS R B
Ihsanullah lbw b Shakib 4 3
Ibrahim c Mominul b Nayeem87 208
Rahmat c & b Shakib 0 1
Shahidi c Soumya b Nayeem 12 37
Asghar c Shakib b Taijul 50 108
Zazai not out 48 110
Nabi c Mominul b Miraz 8 13
Rashid b Taijul 24 22
Qais lbw b Shakib 14 26
Yamin run out (Liton/Mushfiq) 9 11
Zahir c Mominul b Miraz 0 2
Extras (b 4) 4
Total (90.1 Overs) 260 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-4 (Ihsanullah), 2-4 (Rahmat), 3-28 (Shahidi), 4-136 (Asghar), 5-171 (Ibrahim), 6-180 (Nabi), 7-210 (Rashid), 8-235 (Qais), 9-260 (Yamin), 10-260 (Zahir)
Bowling
Shakib 19-3-58-3, Miraz 12.1-3-35-2, Taijul 28-6-86-2, Nayeem 17-2-61-2, Mominul 10-6-13-0, Mosaddek 4-1-3-0
BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS R B
Liton lbw b Zahir 9 30
Shadman lbw b Nabi 41 114
Mosaddek c Asghar b Zahir 12 17
Mushfiq lbw b Rashid 23 25
Mominul lbw b Rashid 3 8
Shakib not out 39 46
Mahmudullah c Ibrahim b Rashid 7 21
Soumya not out 0 5
Extras (lb 2) 2
Total (44.2 Overs) 136/6
Fall Of Wickets
1-30 (Liton), 2-52 (Mosaddek), 3-78 (Mushfiq), 4-82 (Mominul), 5-106 (Shadman), 6-125 (Mahmudullah)
Bowling
Yamin 4-1-14-0, Nabi 17.2-4-38-1, Rashid 13-0-46-3, Zahir 10-0-36-2
Bangladesh need 262 more runs to win