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Shattered Dreams! Cricket became 9pins after lunch

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November 14, 2000 

Dhaka-- (Bangla2000) - Former World Cup champions India earned a nine-wicket victory as they skittled out debutant Bangladesh for 91 runs in the 2nd innings of the Dutch-Bangla Inaugural test match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday (Monday).

The 10th member of the elite test club, Bangladesh learned the simple lesson in the one-off maiden test match that they need more experience and improvement to do reasonably well at the highest level of cricket.

After passing three spirited days in brilliant form with both leather and willow, the test babes displayed lack of passion and stamina losing all their wickets in the 2nd innings within three and a half hour.

Bangladesh set India a winning target of 63 runs after the former World Cup champions took 29-run first innings lead - all out for 429 runs in 141.3 overs just before lunch session.

India reached the winning target making 64 in 15 overs with the loss of one wicket to earn their victory on foreign soil after long seven years and this augurs well for Saurav Ganguly who began his hot job as test captain in the match.

One of the oldest nations in test cricket, India last won their test match on foreign soil against Sri Lanka in 1993.

Left-handed Sadagoapan Ramesh was the only batsman to be dismissed in the 2nd innings after scoring only one run as he dragged the ball to the wicket playing a delivery of pacer Hasibul Hossain Shanta. The wicket was the first for Shanta in the maiden test.

One down Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 40 facing 49 deliveries that included five fours and a six against Naimur Rahman Durjoy over long on.

Debutante opener Shivsundar Das remained not out with 22 runs off 38 balls that featured three boundaries, including the winning hit against Durjoy through the point.

The match was decided on the 4th day yesterday due to the home team's disastrous batting performance in the 2nd innings and they have no reason to blame the pitch for their unskillful batting.

The willow holders showed their irresponsibility in the batting-friendly wicket, also on the 4th day, to destroy the test babes' hope for a draw as the second test nation in the inaugural match.

Zimbabwe, the 9th member of the elite club, had drawn their inaugural test match against India.

Only two Bangladesh batsmen reached the double figure in the 2nd innings - Habibul Bashar Sumon, who made 71 in the 1st innings, and Khaled Masud Pilot who remained not out at 21.

Sumon, who made team highest 30 runs off 63 balls with four boundaries, and Al Shahriar Rokon threw their wickets as if possessed by demon.

One down Sumon started confidently playing his first ball to the fence against Srinath, but his pre-determined pull shot off pacer Ajit Agarkar landed in Zaheer Khan's hands at fine leg and Bangladesh lost the fourth wicket for 53 runs.

Earlier, number five batsman Al Shahriar Rokon walked to the pavilion offering a return catch to Sunil Joshi when he ridiculously stepped out from the crease to play against spin.

Agarkar, who captured two wickets in the 2nd innings, initiated the collapse of Bangladesh capturing two important wickets before tea.

The pacer's first victim was the first innings ton maker Aminul Islam Bulbul when West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor responded to the bowlers appeal for LBW and lifted his finger.

Former national captain Bulbul, who started his innings with a boundary against Zaheer Khan, scored only 6 runs off 21 balls.

Just before tea, Bangladesh lost another big wicket when burly Akram Khan, dropped few minutes earlier at slip by Sachin Tendulkar, was finally caught at short forward leg by Shivsundar Das off a Sunil Joshi delivery for two runs.

After the session following tea break, Indian strike bowler Javagal Srinath, who remained fruitless in the 1st innings, demolished the Bangladesh tails taking three wickets.

His first victim was skipper Naimur Rahman Durjoy, the second was Mohammed Rafique who offered a catch at first slip and the third was Hasibul Hossain Shanta trapped leg before wicket.

Left-arm off-break bowler Joshi, who grabbed five wickets in the 1st innings, picked his third wicket in the 2nd innings trapping Shahriar Hossain Bidyut leg before wicket after he returned for his second stint following retired hurt. Bidyut left the field receiving a painful blow on his shoulder from a bouncer of Srinath in the fourth over.

Srinath finished with the bowling figure of 11-3-19-3, Sunil Joshi 18-5-27-3 and Agarkar 11-4-16-2.

Left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan took Bangladesh's first wicket in the 2nd innings - of opener Mehrab Hossain Opee, caught at point by Murali Kartik. Later, left-arm spinner Kartik captured the last wicket of Bikas Ranjan Das.

The 31-year-old Sunil Joshi shaped the Indian victory showing all round performance to be adjudged man of the match and also the most valuable player in the one-off test match.

The left-handed lower order batsman scored team highest 92 runs in the first innings and picked up eight wickets in the match - five in 1st innings and three in 2nd innings.

Resuming with overnight 366 for 7, India added 63 runs losing the remaining three wickets in 25.3 overs to take a 29-run first innings lead.

Joshi's first innings featured nine boundaries facing 180 balls while Ajit Agarkar contributed 34 runs off 88 balls.

Skipper Durjoy picked up six wickets for 132 runs in 44.3 overs in the first innings while Mohammed Rafique, who took two wickets on fourth the day, finished with 51-12-117-3.

Left-arm pacer Bikas Ranjan Das took one wicket for 64 runs.