Rahim resists but Yardy stars for Sussex

Sussex 549 for 7 dec (Yardy 257, Ambrose 78) beat Bangladeshis 127 and 196 (Rahim 63, Yardy 5-83) by an innings and 226 runs
Scorecard

Michael Yardy demonstrated his allround credentials to complete a memorable personal double, as Sussex overwhelmed a demoralised Bangladeshi side by an innings and 226 runs. Following hot on the heels of his career-best 257, Yardy took 5 for 83 with his left-arm spin to hasten Bangladesh to a thumping defeat.

Deprived of the services of their captain, Habibul Bashar, who was forced to retire hurt on the second day after being felled by a bouncer from Jason Lewry, the Bangladeshi middle-order was rudderless. After a composed start from Nafees Iqbal and Aftab Ahmed, they slumped from 88 for 1 to 132 for 7, and it was left to the rookie wicketkeeper, Mushfiqur Rahim, to salvage some pride with his first fifty of the tour.

After their second-day debacle, in which they had folded for 127 in reply to Sussex's substantial 549 for 7 declared, Bangladesh were only ever fighting for respectability when play resumed this morning. For a time they appeared to have learned their lessons, and while Nafees and Aftab were negotiating the moving ball with some comfort during a 58-run stand for the second wicket, a morale-boosting draw was not entirely out of the question.

But where it had been the seamers doing the damage in the first innings, now it was the turn of the spinners - or more accurately, Yardy's part-time left-armers. He had bowled just two overs in the first innings, and taken just five wickets at 131 in his career, but with a record-breaking batting performance under his belt, he was the player the Bangladeshis most feared, and it showed as he ripped through the innings with 5 for 83 in 22.3 overs.

Nafees was the first to go, bowled by Yardy for 33 as he offered no stroke, to trigger another dramatic subsidence. Aftab Ahmed fenced a Luke Wright short ball to slip for 33, and when Mohammad Ashraful heaved Yardy down the throat of long on for 7, Bangladesh were 110 for 4 and deep in the mire. Johannes van der Wath, Sussex's South African signing, then steamed in off his long run to take a second three-wicket haul for the match, including Mashrafee Mortaza and Enamul Haque jr for ducks.

Had it not been for the sterling resistance from Rahim, who belied his 16 years and five-foot-nothing stance to score 63 from 98 balls, including 10 fours and a six, Bangladesh would have been looking at a total capitulation. Rahim added 45 for the ninth and final wicket with Shadahat Hossain, who finished 12 not out, before Yardy dragged him out of his crease to complete his five-wicket haul courtesy of a neating stumping from Tim Ambrose.

There is little prospect of Rahim being seen at Lord's next week. Khaled Mashud's nuggetty skills were sorely missed by the Bangladeshis in this game, and Rahim's own glovework left much to be desired in Sussex's lengthy innings, in which he missed two costly stumpings. Nevertheless, as a member of the Under-19 squad who toured England in August 2004, Rahim was able to call on every ounce of experience from that trip. In that respect, he is actually more familiar with English pitches than many of his supposed seniors.