Zak in the pack

India wrapped up the Test and with it the series in fine style by beating Bangladesh by 10 wickets. There was stubborn resistance from night watchman Shahadat Hossain and Mohammad Ashraful for almost 100 minutes in the morning but what happened thereafter is a familiar story of Bangladesh cricket.

How many times has Bangladesh floundered after getting a good start is pretty well known in cricketing circles so even as there was plenty to cheer about the magnificent innings of Tamim Iqbal and his partnership with Junaid Siddiqui and then later on the stay put batting of Ashraful and Shahadat there was the awareness that it was too good to last.

They avoided the innings defeat and that will be a small consolation but the fact remains that unless more players show the same resolve then Bangladesh will continue to disappoint their many followers in their country and those outside who believe there is potential in their team.

The batting of Tamim and the solidity of Junaid Siddiqui shows that the skill and application are there and haven’t we seen from Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah the same attitude and determination. It is however the seniors who need to put their hands up and be counted. If Ashraful played a horrible shot in the first innings it was skipper Shakib who seemed to be in a needless hurry in the second innings. These two have it in them for better deeds but unless they combine patience with their strokeplay they will be inconsistent and not the contributors that Bangladesh need.

Zaheer picked up three wickets when that big stand took place between Tamim and Junaid and it was his constant variations and change of angles that Bangladesh had to watch. Once he had tempted Junaid into an indiscreet shot and then got past the outside edge of centurion Tamim, he opened the door wider for the Indians. The Shahadat — Ashraful partnership only delayed the inevitable and  it was great ball from Ojha that sent back Ashraful and then Zaheer came back to send the rest packing.
From 290 for 3 to 312 all out tells you how well he bowled. He was deservedly the man-of-the-match and the series and that too on pitches which were tailor made for batsmen. India did what they had come to do. They have a bigger battle ahead but they have warmed up pretty nicely for that with this 2-0 win. (PMG)