Tigers stumble after Shakib’s five

Bangla desh staged an impressive fightback with the ball on the second day in Bloemfontein, but familiar frailties were exposed with the bat as they lost three quick wickets.
Shakib-Al-Hasan’s five wickets restricted South Africa to 441, before Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel claimed early blows and Paul Harris, operating with a broken thumb, struck with the last ball before tea to leave Bangladesh tottering on 33 for 3.
Taken in isolation, Bangladesh’s efforts of removing eight wickets for 114 runs was outstanding, but it also goes to highlight that they failed to make the most of their opportunity yesterday.
There was plenty on offer for seam and spin and if Mahbubul Alam, a young honest seamer, could find useful swing with the new ball, then there was little doubt that Steyn would too. It didn’t take long for Steyn to make an impression as he removed Tamim Iqbal’s off stump before the batsmen knew what was happening.
Morkel, unconvincing in the one-day series as he struggled with wides, started with a series of leg-side deliveries but, with the final ball of his opening over, got Junaid Siddique into a tangle with a shorter ball and the leading edge lobbed to gully.
South Africa’s innings ended at nine down due to Harris having sustained a broken thumb during practice on Wednesday and, because the teams had already been named, South Africa couldn’t replace him.
He came into the attack shortly before tea and didn’t seem overly inconvenienced, finding enough purchase to have debutant Imrul Kayes caught at short leg as he lunged forward.
Harris’ wicket ensured it was a good day for left-arm spinners after Shakib continued his productive few weeks in Test cricket.
Last month he collected Bangladesh’s best innings haul of 7 for 36 against New Zealand and here he wasn’t afraid to give the ball air and found turn off the undisturbed areas of the pitch.
His variation, too, was a major asset with the ball to remove AB de Villiers spinning sharply, while after lunch he bowled Mark Boucher with one that went straight on.
Bangladesh’s improved performance brought an edge to a contest that could have turned into tedium if South Africa had ploughed their way to monstrous total. That prospect was very much on the cards when Graeme Smith, fond of feasting on Bangladesh attacks, and Hashim Amla resumed their commanding second-wicket stand.
Smith passed 150 for the third time against Bangladesh, but was tested by the impressive Alam and should have been removed on 151 when a hard edge flew to Siddique at a wide first slip.
However, Bangladesh’s fortunes changed in the following over when Amla got an inside-edge into his stumps against Mortaza to end a second-wicket stand of 225.
Moments later Alam finally earned reward for his hard work with a superb delivery that swung back into Smith and took the off stump as the South Africa captain tried to play through the on-side.
Smith has picked off many runs in that area in his time, but on this occasion - even with 157 to his name - the delivery was too good.
Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince are rarely dashers, but although their caution may have been slightly overstated given such a solid foundation they were offered very little to hit by a disciplined attack.
Kallis occasionally broke the shackles, however an eagerness to press on brought his downfall when he lofted Shakib to mid-on as he tried to clear the infield.
As Shakib worked through the middle order either side of lunch, Prince went about his business in a typically unfussy style and nurdled his way to an 80-ball half century.
Occasionally he took the aggressive route, using his feet nicely against the spinners, but largely he was content to work the ball against a deep-set field. Although the batting faltered, the expected course of events was resumed by the bowlers and South Africa are still sitting very comfortably.

Brisbane Test

Southee swings Kiwis into strong position

If Australia were expecting an easy follow-up to their tough tour of India, their hopes were dashed by Tim Southee within 40 minutes at the Gabba.
A super spell of swing bowling from Southee reduced Australia to 3 for 23 and, despite Michael Clarke’s fighting 98, the green-tinged pitch and the discipline of New Zealand’s seamers made scoring hard and ensured the visitors finished the day happy.
Losing to India in India brought enough questions about Australia’s declining dominance, despite the difficulty of the task.
The side was expected to regain its form against New Zealand, the No. 7-ranked team, ahead of home-and-away contests against the more likely challengers South Africa. Instead, Australia’s batsmen spent the first day of their home Test summer battling to 214 against a relatively unheralded attack.
The 19-year-old Southee was the key with his impressive swing and clever variations. He was well supported by Iain O’Brien, who nipped the ball off the seam, and Chris Martin, who nagged on a testing line, while even the slow-mediums of Grant Elliott and Jesse Ryder were dangerous.
Australia’s fast men could be equally successful on the second day but it wasn’t quite what the fans expected at the “Gabbatoir”, where Australia have not lost a Test since 1988.
The saving grace for Australia was the effort of Clarke, who was noticeably thinner having just overcome a virus he picked up in India, but was strong enough to hold together Australia’s innings while wickets tumbled around him. He added 54 with the last two batsmen, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark, and the resistance was enough to steal a fraction of the momentum from New Zealand.
Clarke had his share of luck - edges flew wide of the slips, uppishly played shots fell short of fielders - but his concentration was strong.
He occupied the crease for most of the day after the top three fell in the first eight overs and finally departed from his 217th ball when he drove at a straight one from Ryder and was bowled.
It was typical of the dismissals throughout the day in that the bowlers forced Australia’s batsmen to play the majority of the time. New Zealand had sent Australia in on a surface that was always likely to help the seamers and rarely did the bowlers stray from their probing lines.
Australia’s batsmen struggled to adjust to a more lively pitch having only ten days ago been playing the fourth Test in India, where the benign surfaces made fast bowling a largely thankless task. Besides Clarke, the only men who looked vaguely comfortable were Michael Hussey and Andrew Symonds.
Symonds has had an eventful few months on the field and his return to the top level on the field was just as action-packed. He combined for a 36-run stand with Clarke, the man who played a major role in axing him from the squad in Darwin, and his 26 featured three consecutive fours off Elliott including a muscular pull over midwicket.
The most incredible entry in his scorebook was eight off one O’Brien ball when Symonds clubbed one over midwicket and ran four as the ball held up in the damp outfield. Four overthrows were added when the ball was returned to Brendon McCullum, who felt there was a chance of running Symonds out and hurled it wide of the stumps.
O’Brien had the last laugh when he jagged one away in the same over and had Symonds caught behind; it truly was a strange over as Symonds had already been dropped by Aaron Redmond.
Symonds had come to the crease midway through the second session when Hussey’s precision judgment deserted him and he was lbw leaving a Martin inswinger. The most experienced fast man in the attack, Martin was the least threatening of the three main seamers but he kept the runs tight and ending Hussey’s patient 35 was important as Hussey and Clarke had added 73 that began Australia’s recovery following Southee’s pre-lunch strikes.
Southee’s new-ball spell was notable not only for his swing but also his admirable thinking. He had been regularly bringing the ball back in to the left-hand openers Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich but he picked them both up with offcutters that took the edge and flew behind the wicket.
It became three strikes in 15 minutes when Southee removed Ricky Ponting for 4. Ponting must have initially been thrilled to face a new ball not held by his recent tormentor Ishant Sharma but he found Southee no easier.
He was caught at second slip off a leading edge when he tried to work through leg off a ball that bounced handsomely and moved away late.
Southee’s success justified not only Vettori’s decision to field - a call that has landed other visiting captains in trouble in Australia in recent years - but also New Zealand’s inclusion of Southee ahead of Kyle Mills. For a while it seemed Southee would not have enough support as Clarke, Hussey and Symonds showed some resistance.
But once Hussey and Symonds had departed Australia’s lower order struggled, despite batting deep with Shane Watson at No. 7 and Brad Haddin at No. 8.
Watson wafted airily and edged behind off O’Brien, whose constricting line and length caused problems all day.
Haddin’s aggressive drive in the first over from Ryder, who finished with 2 for 7, was not what Australia required just before tea, and when Southee returned to add Brett Lee as his fourth wicket it was clear that it was New Zealand’s day.
To add to the home side’s frustration, their bowlers could not break through in five overs in gloomy conditions late in the afternoon.
It completed a terrific three sessions for New Zealand, who lost their warm-up game to New South Wales and have not won a Test in Australia since 1985. They might not win this one either, but they have at least taken a major step in the right direction.

National League

Big win for Barisal

A five wicket haul by Tariqul Islam guided league leaders Barisal Division to a massive 222 runs win over Rajshahi Division in the four-day sixth round match of Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 10th National Cricket League at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra on Thursday, reports UNB.
Rajshahi Division, who resumed the second innings on the last day on Thursday with overnight 48 for 7 in 19.3 overs, were finally dismissed for 82 runs in 29.4 overs in chasing the target of 305 runs.
Earlier, in their first innings, Rajshahi Division were all out for 204 in 66.5 overs, while Barisal Division were dismissed cheaply for 166 runs in the first innings but scored 342/10 in the 2nd innings.
The day’s other match between Dhaka Division and Chittagong Division ended in draw at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong today.
Resuming the 4th and last day (Thursday) with overnight 125 for 2 in 29 overs, Chittgaong Division in their second innings scored 314 runs for seven wickets at stumps, riding on Masoom Ud Dowla’s unbeaten 102 runs.
Dhaka Division earlier declared their first innings at 366 for 9, in reply of Chittagong Division’s first innings total 314 for all.
Meanwhile, Sylhet Division were struggling at 93 for 5 in 37 overs in the 2nd innings at stumps to take 29 runs over all lead against Khulna Division on the 3rd day at the Sylhet Stadium on Thursday.
Earlier, in the morning, Khulna Division resumed their first innings with overnight 250 for 5 in 82 overs and were all out for 364, in reply to Sylhet Division first innings total of 300 for all in 96.3 overs.
Kamrul Islam and Rezaul Haq remained unbeaten on 12 and 10 runs respectively as the bails were drawn for the third day today.
Atiqur Rahman bagged two wickets for 13 runs while Ziaur Rahman and Robiul Islam took one wicket each for 27 and 29 runs respectively.
Brief scores:
Barisal Division first innings - 166/10 in 57.5 overs; Hannan Sarker 77, Nasir Hossain 36, Suhrawardy Shuvo 3/25, Mohammad Shahajada 3/57.
2nd innings - 342 for all in 116.4 overs (overnight 177 for 3 in 49 overs); Hannan Sarker 99, Nasir Hossain 92, Rony Talukder 41, Raisul Islam 24, Nasiruddin Faruk 19, Imran Ahmed 18, Farhad Hossain 4/33, Suhrawardy Shuvo 4/119.
Rajshahi Division first innings - 204 all out in 66.5 overs; Farhad Hossain 42, Anisur Rahman 38, Khaled Mashud Pilot 41, Mushfiqur Rahman 33, Talha Jubair 5/41, Tariqul Islam 3/35.
2nd innings - 82 for all in 29.4 overs; Farhad Hossain 22, Suhrawardy Shuvo 12, Anisur Rahman 11, Shahajada 19, Sabbir Rahman not out 14, extras 4, Tariqul Islam 5/21, Kamrul Islam 2/19, Talha Jubair 2/30.
Chittagong Division 1st innings - 314 all out in 117.2 overs; Faisal Hossain 102, Tariq Ahmed 83, Arafat Sunny 3/63, Ashraful Haque 2/63, Emon Ahmed 2/63.
2nd innings - 314 for 7 in 114 overs; Masoom Ud Dowla not out 102, Rezaul Karim 59, Nafees Iqbal 77, Nadimuddin 21, Kamrul Islam 10, Gazi Salahuddin 8, Tareq Aziz not out 7, extras 16, Emon Ahmed 2/53, Elias Sunny 2/60, Arafat Sunny 2/97.
Dhaka Division 1st innings - 366 for 9 (dec.) in 128.2 overs (overnight 157 for 3 in 70 overs); Marshall Ayub 181, Anwar Hossain 65, Nadif Chowdhury 41, extras 25, Tareq Aziz 4/61, Mohammad Younus 3/110.
Sylhet Division 1st innings- 300 all out in 96.3 overs (overnight 286 for 9 in 91 overs); Mohammad Mithun 106, Saikat Ali 88, Rajin Saleh not out 49, Rezaul Haque 17, extras 12, Robiul Islam 3/58, Raihan Anas 2/41, Dollar Mahmud 2/50, Atiqur Rahman 2/82.
2nd innings - 93 for 5 in 37 overs, Mithun 25, Rajin Saleh 20, Golam Rahman 3, Saikat Ali 3, Imtiaz Hossain 13, Kamrul Islam bating 12, Rezaul Karim batting 10, extras 7, Atiqur 2/13, Ziaur 1/27, Robiul 1/29.
Khulna Division 1st innings - 364 for all in 132.1 overs; Ashraful Aziz 105, Raihan Anas 73, Mohammad Salim 48, Amit Majumder 34, Tushar Imran 25, Nahidul Haq 18, Dollar Mahmud 13, Ziaur Rahman 12, Atiqur Rahman not out 3, Robiul 1, extras 23, Nabil Samad 5/81, Tapash Gosh 3/47, Rashedur 1/74, Monir 1/91.

India win in fading light

KANPUR, Nov 20: India’s 16-run win over England on Thursday left the tourists 3-0 down in the series and frustrated at the outcome of a game decided under the Duckworth-Lewis method for shortened matches, report agencies.
England was bowled out for 240 and India had reached 198-5 off 40 overs, 16 runs ahead of the par score of 182 - under the Duckworth-Lewis calculation - when fading light ended play.
The toss, scheduled at 8:30 am local, had been put back 45 minutes because of the thick haze and overcast conditions in smoggy Kanpur, but only one over was docked from each innings, and to top it off, the lunch interval was not shortened.
The win could not have been possible without India’s spinners, who had made the most of the pitch with 22 tidy overs that derailed England after a strong start. Harbhajan Singh picked up 3 for 31, his best returns since April 2006, incidentally against England at home.
Perhaps confident of chasing a relatively low target, India threw their bats at the bowling but lost two quick wickets. After consecutive half-centuries, Gautam Gambhir fell for 14, slashing Andrew Flintoff’s fifth delivery to third man.
Suresh Raina went next, inside-edging a leaden-footed, ambitious drive against Stuart Broad (40 for 2). Sehwag decided that spin would be attacked - Samit Patel put down a hard caught and bowled when he was on 47 - and raised his half-century with six off Graeme Swann. A stand of 68 with Rohit Sharma thrust the initiative back India’s way, only for the latter to throw it back with a loose cut against Graeme Swann in the 23rd over.
Flintoff’s return in the 26th over ended Sehwag’s resistance on 68, thanks to a brilliant reaction catch from Paul Collingwood at backward point.
Sehwag absolutely smashed the ball and Collingwood intercepted it with a leap in the air. Attempting to edge ahead of the D/L requirement, India took their batting Powerplay after 34 overs, and Yuvraj welcomed it with a six. Attempting to hit another, he pulled Flintoff to deep square leg, holing out to Broad this time leaving the crowd stunned.
India were ten runs ahead at this point in fading light. Dhoni scampered singles and Yusuf Pathan found the gaps as well, taking Flintoff for consecutive boundaries.
Matt Prior fluffed a leg-side stumping off his captain to reprieve Yusuf in the 39th over, but by then it was game up for England.
This win was set up in the field. Having lost the toss and looking on as England’s openers added 79, Dhoni used his spinners well. Slowing the pace for the batsmen, he fired an impressive comeback with a steady flow of wickets.
Not only did India restrict England in the middle overs, they also reduced the threat of a late-innings attack, with the otherwise wayward Ishant Sharma narrowly missing a hat-trick in the penultimate over. No boundaries were scored by England in the last three overs.
The visitors earlier got off to an assured start despite the hazy conditions. Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara struck a partnership of 79 for the first wicket, scoring at over five-and-a-half an over.
At this stage, Kevin Pietersen probably wouldn’t have envisioned how the innings would unravel. Bell was dismissed by Munaf Patel four short of his half-century and that triggered a collapse, with the run rate also dipping.
Dhoni turned to spin after the first drinks break, operating with the Singhs, Yuvraj and Harbhajan. Pietersen - back at No. 3 - took on Yuvraj with a driven six over long-on but couldn’t dominate Harbhajan, spooning a catch to long-off on 13.
Collingwood’s dismissal was a gem, set up craftily by Harbhajan. Having tossed up a few offbreaks, Harbhajan slipped in the doosra to suck Collingwood further. The ball crept past his bat and Dhoni completed a smart stumping (106 for 3). That ball would have done in far better batsmen and Harbhajan continued to bowl admirably, tossing the ball up and landing it on all the right areas.
Having brought up his fourth ODI half-century with a blazing boundary through cover, Bopara was stumped off Yuvraj for 60. The rebuilding was now left to Flintoff, who was joined by Owais Shah at 133 for 4, but his struggles against spin continued.
Moving across to Yusuf, he was struck plumb in front below the knee roll for 26. Dhoni’s decision to give the ball to Pathan immediately after the second drinks break had paid dividends.
England took the batting Powerplay after 38 overs, but managed 21 in the four overs. Shah hit some breezy strokes before becoming Harbhajan’s 200th ODI wicket, chipping to long-off for 40 from 42 balls.
England played better in this game, and more than questioning the laws of cricket, and should rue the batting collapse for the 0-3 deficit.
Scorecard
Scoreboard Thursday in the third limited-overs international between India and England at Green Park Stadium:
England
Ravi Bopara st Dhoni b Yuvraj Singh 60
Ian Bell c Dhoni b Patel 46
Kevin Pietersen c Khan b Harbhajan Singh 13
Paul Collingwood st Dhoni b Harbhajan Singh 1
Andrew Flintoff lbw b Pathan 26
Owais Shah c Khan b Harbhajan Singh 40
Samit Patel c Raina b Sharma 26
Matt Prior b Sharma 5
Graeme Swann not out 5
Stuart Broad c Dhoni b Khan 0
James Anderson b Patel 1
Extras: (3lb, 5nb, 9w) 17
Total: (all out) 240.
Overs: 48.4.
Fall of wickets: 1-79, 2-102, 3-106, 4-133, 5-167, 6-203, 7-231, 8-231, 9-235, 10-240.
Bowling: Zaheer Khan 10-0-45-1, Munaf Patel 6.4-0-36-2, Ishant Sharma 9-0-60-2, Yuvraj Singh 10-0-54-1, Harbhajan Singh 10-2-31-3, Yusuf Pathan 2-0-7-1, Virendra Sehwag 1-0-4-0.
India
Gautam Gambhir c Broad b Flintoff 14
Virendra Sehwag c Collingwood b Flintoff 68
Suresh Raina b Broad 1
Rohit Sharma c Prior b Swann 28
Yuvraj Singh c Broad b Flintoff 38
Mahendra Singh Dhoni not out 29
Yusuf Pathan not out 12
Extras: (5lb, 3w) 8
Total: (for 5 wickets) 198.
Overs: 40.
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-34, 3-107, 4-125, 5-177.
Did not bat: Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel.
Bowling: James Anderson 6-0-47-0 (1w), Stuart Broad 9-2-36-1 (2w), Andrew Flintoff 9-0-31-3, Graeme Swann 10-0-47-1, Samit Patel 3-0-18-0, Kevin Pietersen 3-0-14-0.
Umpires: Russell Tiffin, Zimbabwe, and Amish Saheba, India.
TV umpire: Suresh Shastri, India.
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama, Sri Lanka.
Result: India won by 16 runs (Duclworth-Lewis method).
Series: India leads 3-0.

SPORTS NOTES