The early-evening-watchman
Plays of the Day from the fourth day of the second Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh
Firdose Moonda in Harare
28-Apr-2013
Mushfiqur Rahim walks off after falling seven short of a third Test century • AFP
Dismissal of the day
Mushfiqur Rahim was well on his way to a third Test century and would have been furious with the way he did not get there. Hamilton Masakadza was brought on to bowl some innocuous medium pace, which should not have troubled Mushfiqur much. He tried to guide a shortish delivery to third man but was surprised by a hint of extra bounce and got a thick edge instead. Vusi Sibanda, at point, flew to his right and latched on to the chance. Sibanda had put down a couple in this match but pulled of a blinder to deny Mushfiqur a hundred and take the first wicket of the morning.
Mushfiqur Rahim was well on his way to a third Test century and would have been furious with the way he did not get there. Hamilton Masakadza was brought on to bowl some innocuous medium pace, which should not have troubled Mushfiqur much. He tried to guide a shortish delivery to third man but was surprised by a hint of extra bounce and got a thick edge instead. Vusi Sibanda, at point, flew to his right and latched on to the chance. Sibanda had put down a couple in this match but pulled of a blinder to deny Mushfiqur a hundred and take the first wicket of the morning.
Shot of the day
Sohag Gazi brought out his trademark big hit again. Once an innings, he launches one of the bowlers into the stands in display of isolated aggression. This time it was against Hamilton Masakadza. Gazi charged him to loft a delivery on the half volley over long-on. The ball hit the roof of the media area to jolt the journalists awake after what had been a fairly quiet morning session.
Sohag Gazi brought out his trademark big hit again. Once an innings, he launches one of the bowlers into the stands in display of isolated aggression. This time it was against Hamilton Masakadza. Gazi charged him to loft a delivery on the half volley over long-on. The ball hit the roof of the media area to jolt the journalists awake after what had been a fairly quiet morning session.
Delay of the day
When Bangladesh's ninth wicket fell, 45 minutes into the day's second session, it seemed they had every reason to end their innings. They led by 388 runs and history was heavily slanted towards them. The highest successful run chase in Harare is the 192 for 7, achieved by Pakistan in 1998. The highest fourth innings score is 310, notched up by Zimbabwe in 2002. Still, Bangladesh were not going to call it quits until they had set Zimbabwe a target above 400. So the waiting continued, for another 15 minutes until they have achieved their goal, which gave them four-and-a-half sessions to bowl Zimbabwe out.
When Bangladesh's ninth wicket fell, 45 minutes into the day's second session, it seemed they had every reason to end their innings. They led by 388 runs and history was heavily slanted towards them. The highest successful run chase in Harare is the 192 for 7, achieved by Pakistan in 1998. The highest fourth innings score is 310, notched up by Zimbabwe in 2002. Still, Bangladesh were not going to call it quits until they had set Zimbabwe a target above 400. So the waiting continued, for another 15 minutes until they have achieved their goal, which gave them four-and-a-half sessions to bowl Zimbabwe out.
Wicket of the day
Ziaur Rahman had minimal impact on the match until he bowled the delivery that could prove decisive to Bangladesh's cause. After an uneventful first spell, he was brought back on from the far end and got one to angle in from a good length. It struck Taylor on the back pad, in front of off stump. A long, loud appeal followed but Ian Gould would not have needed that much convincing. Rahman picked up his first Test wicket and it was the big one - Taylor scored almost as many runs as the entire Bangladesh line-up in the first Test and would have been the one man thought capable of saving this one.
Ziaur Rahman had minimal impact on the match until he bowled the delivery that could prove decisive to Bangladesh's cause. After an uneventful first spell, he was brought back on from the far end and got one to angle in from a good length. It struck Taylor on the back pad, in front of off stump. A long, loud appeal followed but Ian Gould would not have needed that much convincing. Rahman picked up his first Test wicket and it was the big one - Taylor scored almost as many runs as the entire Bangladesh line-up in the first Test and would have been the one man thought capable of saving this one.
Tactic of the day
The need to protect the best batsmen as the day is drawing to a close often calls for use of the nightwatchman. But to have him walk out with an hour of play remaining could be considered premature. Still, Zimbabwe decided it would suit them better to ask Shingi Masakadza to bat the day out with his brother Hamilton rather than risk Elton Chigumbura or Richmond Mutumbami. Perhaps they thought the family connection would help and, in the end, it proved a good decision.
The need to protect the best batsmen as the day is drawing to a close often calls for use of the nightwatchman. But to have him walk out with an hour of play remaining could be considered premature. Still, Zimbabwe decided it would suit them better to ask Shingi Masakadza to bat the day out with his brother Hamilton rather than risk Elton Chigumbura or Richmond Mutumbami. Perhaps they thought the family connection would help and, in the end, it proved a good decision.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent