NEWS

Zimbabwe complete series whitewash

Harare, April 30: Zimbabwe completed a five-match whitewash of Test nation newcomers Bangladesh when they won the second of two Test matches to add to three one-day Internationals won earlier on the tour.

Requiring only 100 for victory Zimbabwe got there with two wickets to spare for an eight wickets win to add to their innings victory over Bangladesh at Bulawayo last week.

Bangladesh scored 254 in their first innings and added 266. But Zimbabwe's 421/9 declared proved a match-winning effort.

Guy Whittall led the way with 60 and Stuart Carlisle was 29 not out at the end.

The day began with Bangladesh on 219/5, an overall lead of 52. Overnight batsmen Habibul Bashar and Naimur Rahman began confidently enough and for a while it seemed they might go on to set Zimbabwe a challenge.

But once Bashar was out for a fighting 76 and with the score then on 246/6, the Bangladesh tail collapsed, adding only another 20 runs.

The Zimbabwe seamers Brighton Watambwa and Heath Streak took two wickets each, Watambwa ending with figures of 4-64.

Bangladesh showed steady improvement through the tour, indicated by their making it to the fifth day for the first time.

Zimbabwe will have a much tougher tour when India, conquerers of Australia, arrive here at the end of May for a two-test series and a one-day triangular involving West Indies.

Bangladesh's next international encounters will be against their three sub-continental neighbours India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a Test knockout competition.

An unbeaten 68 from Habibul Bashar give Bangladesh some hope

Harare, April 29: An unbeaten 68 from Bangladesh's Habibul Bashar gave the cricket minnows a faint hope of avoiding defeat at close on the fourth day of the second Test against Zimbabwe here on Sunday.

Bashar's defiant innings helped Bangladesh inch into a 52-run lead going into the final day. At stumps Bangladesh were 219 for five in their second innings.

Bangladesh's first innings 254 had represented a limited challenge to Zimbabwe, who replied with 421/9 declared. Four of the home batsmen especially, Heath Streak with 87, Grant Flower 84, Alastair Campbell 73 and Guy Whittall, made the most of below standard seam bowling.

This left Bangladesh with the initial task of avoiding their second innings defeat in successive Tests.

On the evidence of previous matches they might have had problems, especially when opening batsman Mahreb Hossain was out for a duck and there were just two runs on the scoreboard.

But Javed Omar, the principal batting success of the tour, and the incoming Al Shariar, put on 97 for the second wicket.

It was the turning point of the day, even though al-Shariar was caught for 68 just afterwards and Aminul Islam was controversially given out for two by New Zealand umpire Doug Cowie after he failed to offer a shot to Raymond Price.

Bashar and Akram Khan, who took over responsibilities, grew with confidence despite the still precarious situation and a sprinkling of boundaries enabled them to achieve their first objective - reaching 167 to avoid the follow on.

They put on 76 for the fifth wicket before Khan was dismissed for 31. Zimbabwe lead the two-Test series 1-0.

Grant Flower and Heath Streak thwart Bangladesh’s bowlers

Harare, April 28: Zimbabwe duo Grant Flower and Heath Streak tore into Bangladesh's bowlers to leave the cricket novices with little chance of victory in the second Test.

Flower pounded a quick-fire 84 and Streak helped himself to an unbeaten 65 as Zimbabwe finished the third day 123 runs ahead on 377 for six. Chasing a fragile Bangladesh first innings total of 254 and beginning the day on 144 for 2, Zimbabwe overtook the tourists with five wickets to spare.

Alistair Campbell blasted 73; including 18 in Monjurul's first over of the day before Flower and Streak put on 133 for the sixth wicket. Flower finally fell to a mid-on catch by Mohammad Sharif off Enamul Hoque.

But any Bangladesh hopes of further wickets were ended by rain, which forced the close 11 overs early.Bangladesh's only consolation on a dismal day were the wickets of Stuart Carlisle, who failed to add to his overnight 21 and Andrew Flower.

Flower came to the wicket needing a half-century to go into cricket's record books as the only player in Test history to make eight of them in a row.

He was looking in great form but a mix-up on 23 with Campbell resulted in his being run out by Javed Omar.

Whittall puts Zimbabwe in a strong position

Harare, April 27: Zimbabwe opening batsman Guy Whittall put Zimbabwe into a strong position against Bangladesh on the second day of the second and last Test here on Friday.

In reply to the Bangladesh first innings 254 all out, Whittall provided the platform for the home team to make 144/2 by the close, a deficit of 110 with eight first innings wickets remaining.

Whittall, an all-rounder, made 119 in the first Test at Bulawayo a week ago and continues a run of good form.

But he this time he failed to beat Mohammad Sharif in a run-out race and was dismissed after a lengthy TV adjudication for 59. Whittall's partnership of 90 with Dion Ebrahim was the first time two Zimbabwe openers have passed the 50 mark in 16 Tests.

Ebrahim, in taking a secondary and more defensive role, reached 39 before he was caught by Akram Khan off Naimur Rahman's fourth ball.

Stuart Carlisle and Alastair Campbell safely saw out the remaining 80 minutes play. Both had failed in Bulawayo and are in need of personal as well as team satisfaction.

The day began with Bangladesh on 198-6, Akram Khan being their main hope of moving the tourists on to a good score.

They lost an early wicket when Mushfiqur Rahman fell to Heath Streak for just two runs. But the stocky middle order batsman found a reliable partner in Test debutant Enamul Hoque. At lunch Khan and Hoque had taken Bangladesh to 253-7.

But in the first 11 balls of the afternoon session, the tourists lost their last three wickets for one run. Khan, Monjurul Islam and Mohammad Sharif were all caught in the slips.

The 254 runs total on a good batting wicket and even allowing for a slow outfield, followed by Zimbabwe's chasing 144-2, is probably not sufficient to think about an eventual victory that would square the series.

Hossain, Bashar worth all praises

Harare, April 26: Bangladesh clawed their way back to 198/6 at the close on the first day of the second Test match against Zimbabwe here on Thursday after looking over the cliff edge when 48 for 3 at lunch.

Their recovery was a gutsy performance, led by Mahreb Hossain and Habibul Bashar, who between them, brought the tourists back into a match they need to win or draw to avoid going home empty-handed next week.

Bangladesh has so far lost the first Test and all three one-day Internationals.

They built a morale-raising fourth wicket partnership of 114, which grew in confidence by the minute until they were parted. It was ended when Bashar tried to lift left-arm spinner Raymond Price over his head. He missed and was stumped by Andrew Flower.

Bashar made 64 most valuable runs for his side, hitting eight fours and a six.

But as frequently happens with partnerships, both batsmen departed the scene in quick succession. Hossain soon followed, caught by Stuart Carlisle off Price for 71, in his case with only two boundaries.

It was with only the ninth ball of the day that Zimbabwe's captain and main strike bowler Heath Streak captured Javed Omar for just one run.

This was a shock for the tourists, and not least for Omar himself, because in his previous Test innings at Bulawayo, Omar made 62 and 85 not out, saving his side from annihilation.

The setback called for a serious recovery programme. Neither Al-Shariar, who was brought back into the side, nor Aminul Islam were able to provide it. They added only 11 and 12 respectively to the scoreboard.

Al-Shariar was Streak's second victim while Islam fell to Raymond Price with the final ball of the session.

Mahreb Hossain and Habibul Bashar, who had been sent in ahead of Akram Khan, needed to turn things around. And after a shaky start to their fourth wicket partnership they did so with gusto.

As the new ball became due towards the end of the day, Bangladesh were once more thinking about survival, which Khan and his captain Naimur Rahman almost achieved.

Price sent back Rahman leg before in the last but one over of the day to give him a four wickets haul. Khan and Mushfiqur Rahman will resume their innings on Friday.

Zimbabwe and Bangladesh gear up for the Second Test

Harare, April 25: Both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have promised better performances in the second test between the two countries, which starts in Harare on Thursday.

Zimbabwe won the first test by an innings and 32 runs with more than a day to spare in Bulawayo on Sunday, to register their fourth win in 49 test matches.

Another home side victory in Harare would add a 2-0 sweep in the test rubber to their 3-0 whitewash in the one-day international series.

Bangladesh have yet to name a squad for the match, but their coach, Chappell said it was likely to contain several changes from the side that lost the first test.

There will be an enforced change behind the stumps after Khaled Mashud -- the only specialist wicketkeeper in the touring party -- fractured his ankle while warming up for Saturday's play in Bulawayo.

Mehrab Hossain, who took over the gloves after Mashud was injured, is likely to inherit the position with Al-Shariar an outside contender.

The only change from the first test in Zimbabwe's squad of 12 is the inclusion of batsman Gavin Rennie at the expense of leg-spinner Brian Murphy as insurance against Harare's livelier pitches.

Squads:

Zimbabwe: Gavin Rennie, Guy Whittall, Stuart Carlisle, Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Heath Streak (captain), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Mluleki Nkala, Brighton Watambwa.

Harare, April 22: Beginning the day on 91-2, and needing 200 to make Zimbabwe bat again,
Bangladesh collapsed to 168-9, which was effectively all out. Khaled Masud was not able to bat. He broke a fibula in training on Saturday and will be out of action for at least a month.

Outstanding batting by Bangladesh opener Javed Omar failed to prevent an innings defeat for Bangladesh on the fourth day of the first Test in Bulawayo here on Sunday.

His 85 runs, added to 62 in the first innings, was deserving of a century. But his final partner at the wicket, Monjurul Islam, was not able to do any better than his compatriots and help Omar achieve it.

In carrying his bat through the innings, Omar was the first opening batsman to do so on Test debut since 1899, more than 100 years ago. He achieved the same feat in Harare two weeks ago in one of the international series matches.

Bangladesh lost Aminul Islam early in the morning Sunday when he added only one run to his overnight 10. But none of the incoming batsmen reached double figures and Omar had to watch a sorry procession at the other end.

Zimbabwe recorded their fourth Test victory. They have also lost 25 and drawn 20 so this win is more than welcome for them.

Bangladesh will have to improve significantly in the second Test beginning Thursday in Harare in order to achieve their own first Test win.

Andy Flower equals half-centuries record

Harare, April 20: Zimbabwe's best batsman Andy Flower, already officially rated third in the world, on Friday became only the second cricketer to score seven successive half-centuries in Test cricket when he hit 73 on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Bulawayo.

Flower equalled the record set by the former West Indies captain Everton Weekes in 1949.

Flower's knock and Zimbabwe opening batsman Guy Whittall's 119 - his fourth Test century - took the home side into a commanding position by the close of play.

Zimbabwe will resume on Saturday on 287-5, a lead of 30 over Bangladesh with five wickets in hand.

Flower and Whittall put on 149 for the fourth wicket - and the Zimbabweans badly needed it in order to gain the initiative.

Resuming overnight on 256-9, the last Bangladesh wicket fell in the third over with only one more run added.

Zimbabwe seamer Andy Blignaut captured it and he also went in the record books with the best bowling figures (5-73) of any home player on his debut.
After closing out Bangladesh, Zimbabwe came under fire themselves and were in trouble on 27-2 when Monjurul Islam, bowling at his very best, dismissed Dion Ebrahim and Stuart Carlisle.

Islam wa on a hat-trick with the arrival of Alastair Campbell but it was not to be, though Campbell soon went for 19 trying to hook Mohammad Sharif - the 17-year-old's first Test wicket - and Zimbabwe were still in difficulties.

Flower and Whittall saved the day for the home side but Islam went on to take a third wicket, that of Andrew Flower, thus rounding off a fine performance with 3-57.

Bangladesh captain Naimur Rahman withheld the new ball until the third morning on Saturday in a bid to turn things round with a fresh assault. 

Omar and Islam defy Zimbabwe in first Test

Harare, April 19: Javed Omar maintained his fine batting form and Aminul Islam rediscovered his form to put Bangladesh into a reasonable situation after the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on Thursday.

Omar worked hard for his 62 and Islam was more aggressive in scoring 84 — the two of them putting on 84 for the third wicket but at the close Bangladesh had slipped to 256/9.

Omar, who hit nine fours, looked set for a really big score but a drinks break damaged his concentration. He was dropped twice in the following over and then gave a catch to Zimbabwe debutant Dion Ebrahim at short mid-off.

Islam went after almost everything wide but his risky policy paid off — until the new ball was taken and he gave a snick to Andrew Flower at the wicket.

It was also a great day for Zimbabwe's new all-rounder Andy Blignaut. He picked up four wickets on his debut - he also took two catches and brilliantly ran out Akram Khan — and with captain Heath Streak all but destroyed the Bangladesh tail in the last five overs.

Bangladesh have shown signs of growing batting maturity. They were put into bat on a grassy wicket and more than held their own with the home side through the first two sessions.

There were also only a few hundred people in the ground, an eerie experience for the Bangladeshis, knowing that perhaps 30 million were watching them on TV back home.

Zimbabwe just about took the honours of the day by capturing three Bangladesh wickets near the end. But Naimur Rahman's men can take satisfaction in at least batting throughout it. However, their likely first innings score will be around 100 fewer than they might have hoped for.

Zimbabwe favourites to beat Bangladesh in Test Series

BULAWAYO, April 18: Zimbabwe start the test series against Bangladesh on Thursday as odds-on favourites to beat the new minnows of international cricket.

After three comprehensive victories in the limited overs series, the home side are expected to triumph in the two test matches against opponents playing their first ever tour as a test nation.

Zimbabwe coach Carl Rackemann, however, is cautious.

"I don't like to use the word 'expect' when it comes to cricket," Zimbabwe coach Rackemann said.

"We want to focus on our cricket, and the quality of cricket that each individual in our team plays.

Bangladesh have played just one test before, against India in Dhaka in November, which they lost by nine wickets.

Zimbabwe are keen to exploit the difficulty the Bangladesh batsmen had in coping with the seaming ball in the one-day series, despite Bulawayo's reputation for producing flat pitches.

"We've asked for a touch more grass, so we're expecting a hard, quick bouncy wicket," Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak said.

Bangladesh captain Naimur Rahman said the conditions were alien to his side.

"We normally play in totally different conditions than in Zimbabwe," he said.

"In the first two matches in Harare, our batsmen were not able to adjust to the wickets.

"But our bowlers have done a good job. That's a good sign, because normally we struggle with our bowling."

"We've got good team spirit - the guys are trying to help each other," Naimur Rahman said. "Our approach will definitely be positive.

Streak said the tourists were less of an unknown quantity after the five matches they had played in Zimbabwe.

"We've found out a bit more about them," Streak said. "Hopefully we have a better understanding of what they're about and what we're up against."

Bangladesh named four uncapped players in their 12-man squad for the test.

Opening batsman Javed Omar and pacemen Manjural Islam, Mohammed Sharif and Mushfiqur Rahman are the uncapped players.

Squads: 
Bangladesh: Mehrab Hossain, Javed Omar, Habibul Bashar, Aminul Islam, Akram Khan, Naimur Rahman (captain), Khaled Mashud, Mohammad Rafique, Hasibul Hussain, Manjural Islam, Mohammed Sharif, Mushfiqur Rahman.

Zimbabwe names squad for Bulawayo Test

New Delhi, April 18: All-rounder Heath Streak will lead a 12-member Zimbabwe team for the first Test against Bangladesh to be played from tomorrow at Bulawayo, according to a statement from the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The playing XI will be announced on the morning of the match, the statement added.

The team: Heath Streak (capt), Guy Whittal, Andy Blignaut, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Brian Murphy, Mluleki Nkala, Raymond Price and Brighton Watambwa. Coach: Carl Rackemann. Manager: Babu Meman.

Zimbabwe wraps up One-day series against Bangladesh

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, April 11: Zimbabwe completed a 36-run victory over Bangladesh here today for a 3-0 series whitewash in their One-day International series. Bangladesh made 272-8, their highest yet in all One-day matches, in response to Zimbabwe's 308-7, and went down by 36 runs.

The match was dominated by the Flower brothers Andrew and Grant of Zimbabwe. Grant made his biggest international score, 142 runs coming in 128 balls.

Andrew scored 81 off 91 balls and they put on a sparkling 147 for the fourth wicket. It was their 10th century partnership in this form of cricket and they have scored almost 10,000 career runs between them.

Bangladesh put Zimbabwe in some trouble at 39-3, getting Alastair Campbell for a duck in the first over.

And then when batting they were 156-3 with 20 overs remaining but the Bangladesh middle order were not able to cope and were eventually outclassed by a better side.

Bangladesh's run requirement went up from 8.3 to 10.3 between the 30th and 38th over and when they then lost three quick wickets in Akram Khan, Habibul Bashar and Mohammad Rafique the chance for much needed momentum had gone.

Bangladesh, though beaten for the third time in succession here, can take heart from a much improved batting performance. Jave Omar fulfilled his promise of last weekend in Harare by scoring 69 in 82 balls and Habibul Bashar made 73 runs in 91 balls.

They now have just over a week to prepare for the first Test match in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe lost Alistair Campbell with only 15 on the scoreboard in reply, but Guy Whittall and Stuart Carlisle added 64 before the former was caught in the covers. Carlisle had hit Mohammad Rafique for two consecutive sixes.