Gazi's success and Samuel's accomplishment
Plays of the day from the second day of the second Test between Bangladesh and West Indies in Khulna
Mohammad Isam in Khulna
22-Nov-2012
Kieran Powell faced a barrage of short deliveries from Rubel Hossain. After he was struck by one on the head, he fell to another in the same over • AFP
The shot of character
Tamim Iqbal, after the first day, had described Abul Hasan's shots as batsman-like, and the surprise hundred had been rejoiced in the entire country. But Abul batted like a tail-ender on the second morning. After a few missed swishes, he bludgeoned the ball past mid-on. Despite the slog, he moved past Reggie Duff to become the highest scorer at No. 10 on debut.
Tamim Iqbal, after the first day, had described Abul Hasan's shots as batsman-like, and the surprise hundred had been rejoiced in the entire country. But Abul batted like a tail-ender on the second morning. After a few missed swishes, he bludgeoned the ball past mid-on. Despite the slog, he moved past Reggie Duff to become the highest scorer at No. 10 on debut.
The anti-climax
Sohag Gazi opened the bowling for Bangladesh for the third innings in a row - and, also for the third time, to Chris Gayle. Gazi was hit for 16 off 10 balls in the first innings of the Dhaka Test, and 10 off 5 balls in the second innings. There were expectations of another assault on Thursday but Gayle merely defended the first delivery back to the bowler. A few overs later, Gazi had Gayle caught behind after conceding ten runs in 19 balls. It was the second time the offspinner had claimed Gayle's wicket in this series, and it's probably fair to say the battle is currently evenly contested.
Sohag Gazi opened the bowling for Bangladesh for the third innings in a row - and, also for the third time, to Chris Gayle. Gazi was hit for 16 off 10 balls in the first innings of the Dhaka Test, and 10 off 5 balls in the second innings. There were expectations of another assault on Thursday but Gayle merely defended the first delivery back to the bowler. A few overs later, Gazi had Gayle caught behind after conceding ten runs in 19 balls. It was the second time the offspinner had claimed Gayle's wicket in this series, and it's probably fair to say the battle is currently evenly contested.
The planned dismissal
Fast bowler Rubel Hossain worked opener Kieran Powell's dismissal. The opener faced a lot of short deliveries from Rubel, and one of them hit him in the head. But the barrage of short-pitched deliveries didn't stop, and soon Powell hooked one to be caught by the square-leg fielder. Bowlers would need a plan to get wickets on the Khulna pitch, and this was definitely a plan from the bowler.
Fast bowler Rubel Hossain worked opener Kieran Powell's dismissal. The opener faced a lot of short deliveries from Rubel, and one of them hit him in the head. But the barrage of short-pitched deliveries didn't stop, and soon Powell hooked one to be caught by the square-leg fielder. Bowlers would need a plan to get wickets on the Khulna pitch, and this was definitely a plan from the bowler.
The reply
At the start of his second spell, Rubel conceded two boundaries to Marlon Samuels before banging one in short to which the batsman ducked under. Rubel had a word to say, and Samuels replied back. After pulling the next ball to the midwicket boundary, he showed Rubel in which direction he had hit, though the bowler had turned his back seconds ago.
At the start of his second spell, Rubel conceded two boundaries to Marlon Samuels before banging one in short to which the batsman ducked under. Rubel had a word to say, and Samuels replied back. After pulling the next ball to the midwicket boundary, he showed Rubel in which direction he had hit, though the bowler had turned his back seconds ago.
The accomplishment
Samuels had promised five Test centuries by the end of this year, after the World Twenty20 final. He missed out in the Dhaka Test but when he completed his fifth Test century in his career, he brought out his lucky yellow scarf which had hung around his neck after his heroic innings in Colombo last month.
Samuels had promised five Test centuries by the end of this year, after the World Twenty20 final. He missed out in the Dhaka Test but when he completed his fifth Test century in his career, he brought out his lucky yellow scarf which had hung around his neck after his heroic innings in Colombo last month.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's correspondent in Bangladesh