The stumping that never was
Plays of the Day for the third day of the second Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan
Siddarth Ravindran
19-Dec-2011
Taufeeq Umar was lucky Mushfiqur Rahim wasn't paying attention when on 56 • Associated Press
The missed stumping
On Sunday, Shakib Al Hasan had been within sight of breaking the record for the highest individual Test score by a Bangladesh batsman but didn't after being run-out due to a poor call from his captain Mushfiqur Rahim. He had shuffled off yesterday after several angry glares at Mushfiqur. There was more reason for him to be displeased with Mushfiqur on Monday. Shakib had Taufeeq Umar, on 56, playing for the arm ball when it actually spun past the pads. Mushfiqur collected and was so sure then was an edge that he jumped up-and-down in appeal without accepting the stumping chance on offer.
On Sunday, Shakib Al Hasan had been within sight of breaking the record for the highest individual Test score by a Bangladesh batsman but didn't after being run-out due to a poor call from his captain Mushfiqur Rahim. He had shuffled off yesterday after several angry glares at Mushfiqur. There was more reason for him to be displeased with Mushfiqur on Monday. Shakib had Taufeeq Umar, on 56, playing for the arm ball when it actually spun past the pads. Mushfiqur collected and was so sure then was an edge that he jumped up-and-down in appeal without accepting the stumping chance on offer.
The bouncer -1
It had been a tough day for Shahadat Hossain, repeatedly overstepping as he strived for pace. He couldn't get the ball to jag around, and the batsmen dealt with him comfortably despite the high-decibel grunts that showed the effort he was putting into each delivery. He finally got one ball to lift sharply, a perfectly directed bouncer at Taufeeq. Even though Taufeeq was well past 100, he couldn't get out of the way, and the ball struck his helmet just above the ear, before trickling away for a four towards third man. And to Shahadat's dismay, it was a front foot no-ball, which meant a total of five runs against his name.
It had been a tough day for Shahadat Hossain, repeatedly overstepping as he strived for pace. He couldn't get the ball to jag around, and the batsmen dealt with him comfortably despite the high-decibel grunts that showed the effort he was putting into each delivery. He finally got one ball to lift sharply, a perfectly directed bouncer at Taufeeq. Even though Taufeeq was well past 100, he couldn't get out of the way, and the ball struck his helmet just above the ear, before trickling away for a four towards third man. And to Shahadat's dismay, it was a front foot no-ball, which meant a total of five runs against his name.
The bouncer-2
While Nasir Hossain is a handy bowler in one-dayers, he isn't quite as effective in first-class matches. He normally bowls offspin, and when he was tossed the ball in the 72nd over, the move nearly worked as the in-form Younis Khan whipped a catch towards deep midwicket, only for it to be dropped. When the second new ball was taken, the quicks had it seaming around, prompting Bangladesh to call on Nasir again, this time to try some medium-pace. The speed was nowhere near express, but when Misbah-ul-Haq casually drove him past mid-on for four, Nasir responded with the usual fast bowlers' retort - a bouncer. Misbah evaded it, and grinned at the impudence of attempting a 116kph bouncer.
While Nasir Hossain is a handy bowler in one-dayers, he isn't quite as effective in first-class matches. He normally bowls offspin, and when he was tossed the ball in the 72nd over, the move nearly worked as the in-form Younis Khan whipped a catch towards deep midwicket, only for it to be dropped. When the second new ball was taken, the quicks had it seaming around, prompting Bangladesh to call on Nasir again, this time to try some medium-pace. The speed was nowhere near express, but when Misbah-ul-Haq casually drove him past mid-on for four, Nasir responded with the usual fast bowlers' retort - a bouncer. Misbah evaded it, and grinned at the impudence of attempting a 116kph bouncer.
The breakthrough
By the third session, Bangladesh's fielding was ragged, the bowling flat and Pakistan's batsmen looking forward to a pile of runs. They were buoyed though through a testing spell of quick bowling from Nazmul Hossain. The high point was the wicket of the well-set Taufeeq. First Nazmul had Taufeeq searching for the ball outside off as it nipped away off the seam, and two balls later he induced the outside edge to second slip, ending Taufeeq's innings on 130.
By the third session, Bangladesh's fielding was ragged, the bowling flat and Pakistan's batsmen looking forward to a pile of runs. They were buoyed though through a testing spell of quick bowling from Nazmul Hossain. The high point was the wicket of the well-set Taufeeq. First Nazmul had Taufeeq searching for the ball outside off as it nipped away off the seam, and two balls later he induced the outside edge to second slip, ending Taufeeq's innings on 130.
Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo