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Bangladesh sink into the mire at Dhaka
Shahryar Khan
January 9, 2002
A horrendous lower-middle order collapse has restricted Bangladesh to 160 after they batted for just two sessions or 53.2 overs. Waqar Younis, albeit not as fast as he was in the early nineties, mopped up the frail middle and lower order with a lethal last 29 deliveries to take six wickets. Pakistan batted through the last session to reach 126 for 3.
Waqar Younis sent Bangladesh in to bat first against his fearsome pace-battery after winning the toss. Javed Omar Belim was dropped and Mehrab Hossain came in to open with Al-Sahariar at the other end.
The hosts began by plundering runs as if they were playing a limited over match, with the inevitable risks involved. Abdur Razzaq removed both of them before Danish Kaneria tempted an impatient Ashraful to offer a catch to cover, where Youhana made no mistake. The teenager had made 27 from 31 balls, leaving his team struggling at 77 for 3.
Habibul Bashar then formed a partnership with veteran Aminul Islam, adding 63 runs for the fourth wicket with Aminul contributing 25.
Habibul Bashar lost concentration soon after reaching his eighth Test 50 (second against Pakistan). He offered a difficult chance off Waqar that was taken fabulously by the nimble Kaneria. He had scored 53, the highest score in this innings.
Khaled Masud was trapped lbw by a low Waqar delivery, and Waqar then quickly polished off the middle and lower order. Bangladesh were rapidly reduced from 140 for 3 to 151 for 9.
The prolific fast bowler completed his 16.2 over spell with six wickets for 55, taking his Test total to 358 and dismissing Bangladesh for just 160. Kaneria and Razzaq assisted him with two wickets each.
Taufeeq Umar and Shahdab Kabir were never in trouble facing the ordinary pace attack led by Manjural Islam and Mohammed Sharif. Taufeeq reached his fifty off just 54 deliveries. Enamul Haque then clean bowled Shahdab when the tourists had reached 100.
Younis Khan then went for a duck on the same total, snicking Enamul to Khaled Masud. Taufeeq Umar fell lbw to Mohammed Sharif when the total was 116. The left-hander had made 53 off 104 balls during his 114-minute stay.
© Cricinfo
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