Misbah breaks free, Nasir saves face
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the first ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur
George Binoy
01-Dec-2011
Nasir Hossain gave Imran Farhat a send-off • AFP
Stat of the day
Bangladesh doubled their score in the eighth over of their innings. It wasn't especially hard to do because they were only 8 for 2. They had help as well, from Umar Gul, who bowled a bouncer that sailed over the heads of little Mushfiqur Rahim and Sarfraz Ahmed for five wides. A quickly-run three after a flick to deep-backward square leg followed but it wasn't the start of a revival.
Bangladesh doubled their score in the eighth over of their innings. It wasn't especially hard to do because they were only 8 for 2. They had help as well, from Umar Gul, who bowled a bouncer that sailed over the heads of little Mushfiqur Rahim and Sarfraz Ahmed for five wides. A quickly-run three after a flick to deep-backward square leg followed but it wasn't the start of a revival.
Torment of the day
Mohammad Hafeez thrives against left-hand batsmen. And both Bangladesh's openers were left-handers. Hafeez made short work of Tamim Iqbal's return to the side, and almost had Shahriar Nafees as well. Three times. In the fifth over, Nafees stepped out and stabbed at one from Hafeez that spun and bounced away from him, edging short of Younis Khan at first slip. In the seventh, he stayed in his crease and poked, the spin and bounce inducing another edge that did not carry to Younis. Nafees tried to cut the next ball, but this time the edge flew just wide of Younis' outstretched left hand.
Mohammad Hafeez thrives against left-hand batsmen. And both Bangladesh's openers were left-handers. Hafeez made short work of Tamim Iqbal's return to the side, and almost had Shahriar Nafees as well. Three times. In the fifth over, Nafees stepped out and stabbed at one from Hafeez that spun and bounced away from him, edging short of Younis Khan at first slip. In the seventh, he stayed in his crease and poked, the spin and bounce inducing another edge that did not carry to Younis. Nafees tried to cut the next ball, but this time the edge flew just wide of Younis' outstretched left hand.
Nonchalant moment of the day
Shahid Afridi usually celebrates his wickets flamboyantly. He stands with feet spread, back arched slightly, chest thrust out, both hands raised above his head with fingers pointing to the sky and, depending on his mood, elation or aggression on his face. Afridi holds this star-man pose until his team-mates arrive from far and wide to mob him. Not against Bangladesh today. Not for his first four wickets, and not even for the fifth. Afridi had Shafiul Islam caught behind to end the Bangladesh innings and complete figures of 5 for 23. He merely walked back to the umpire, collected his cap, and began to troop off the field.
Shahid Afridi usually celebrates his wickets flamboyantly. He stands with feet spread, back arched slightly, chest thrust out, both hands raised above his head with fingers pointing to the sky and, depending on his mood, elation or aggression on his face. Afridi holds this star-man pose until his team-mates arrive from far and wide to mob him. Not against Bangladesh today. Not for his first four wickets, and not even for the fifth. Afridi had Shafiul Islam caught behind to end the Bangladesh innings and complete figures of 5 for 23. He merely walked back to the umpire, collected his cap, and began to troop off the field.
Unpredictable moment of the day
Pakistan had lost four wickets in four overs for eight runs and their dead-batter in excelsis, Misbah-ul-Haq, was dead-batting everything. He edged a couple of balls but blocked most of them, remaining scoreless for 16 deliveries. Misbah seemed intent on taking his team into the session break with no further damage, never mind the run-rate. And then it came from out of the blue: the match's only six. Shakib Al Hasan tossed the ball wide outside off, Misbah wound up and swung for the stands, hammering the ball over the wide long-on boundary.
Pakistan had lost four wickets in four overs for eight runs and their dead-batter in excelsis, Misbah-ul-Haq, was dead-batting everything. He edged a couple of balls but blocked most of them, remaining scoreless for 16 deliveries. Misbah seemed intent on taking his team into the session break with no further damage, never mind the run-rate. And then it came from out of the blue: the match's only six. Shakib Al Hasan tossed the ball wide outside off, Misbah wound up and swung for the stands, hammering the ball over the wide long-on boundary.
Face-saving moment of the day
Nasir Hossain dropped Imran Farhat on 11 in the ninth over. It was a simple chance at first slip and the ball went straight through Hossain's hands. He looked sheepish and apologetic. He had been dismissed to a rash pull shot earlier in the day as well. Hossain came on to bowl the tenth over and make amends with his second ball, bowling Farhat off the bottom edge. His celebrated by staring the batsman down, showing him the index finger and then pointing him in the direction of the dressing-room.
Nasir Hossain dropped Imran Farhat on 11 in the ninth over. It was a simple chance at first slip and the ball went straight through Hossain's hands. He looked sheepish and apologetic. He had been dismissed to a rash pull shot earlier in the day as well. Hossain came on to bowl the tenth over and make amends with his second ball, bowling Farhat off the bottom edge. His celebrated by staring the batsman down, showing him the index finger and then pointing him in the direction of the dressing-room.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo