|
|
|
| August 31, 2003 | Sunday | Rajab 2, 1424 |
Pakistan win first home series after five years: Shoaib takes 100 Test wickets
PESHAWAR, Aug 30: Speedster Shoaib Akhtar destroyed Bangladesh with his first 10-wicket haul to help Pakistan cruise to nine wickets win in the second Test and wrap up their first home series triumph in five years on Saturday.
Shoaib, who ended with the match figures of 10-80, finished with four for 30 in the second innings to skittle hapless Bangladesh out for 96.
Needing 163 to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series Pakistan achieved the target with opener Mohammad Hafeez cracking an unbeaten 102, his first Test hundred in his second Test. Hafeez reached his first Test century with his 11th fours. He also hit a towering six.
Hafeez and Taufeeq Umer put on 140 for the first wicket before Umer went for 43 but the pair had put paid to any hope of a sensational Bangladesh victory. Local boy Yasir Hameed who missed out in the first innings was undefeated 18 and struck the winning stroke soon after the third and final session.
Pakistan last won a series on home grounds against the West Indies in 1997-98 before they lost to Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and England.
“This is tremendous to lead the side for the first series win at home in five years. I am happy this young team is progressing well. Bangladesh played very well and dominated the first day” said Pakistan skipper skipper Rashid Latif.
Despite losing 22 of their 23 Tests since gaining Test status, Bangladesh can boast of another improved show as they took a first innings lead for the first time.
“We did well in the first two days and thought we could win but we threw away the advantage with poor batting in the second innings,” disappointed captain Khaled Mahmud said.
Shoaib, declared Man of the Match, said he was happy over his role in the success.”I am happy I fulfilled the responsibility reposed in me and played my part,” said Shoaib.
Resuming at overnight 52 for four wickets Bangladesh survived the first nine overs before Shoaib struck twice to start their downfall.
Shoaib’s pace proved too much for the tourists as they lost their last six wickets off 45 balls with the addition of 32 mere runs.
The 28-year-old Shoaib started the collapse by trapping Razin Saleh for six, a doubtful decisions by umpire Steve Bucknor, getting his 100 wickets in his 27th Test, and followed up with Khaled Mashud leg before with the very next ball for second duck of the match.
Shoaib is the 11th Pakistani bowler to have taken 100 or more wickets in Test cricket.
The Bangladesh skipper missed a straighter one from leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to leave Bangladesh reeling at 7-65.
Alok Kapali, who grabbed Bangladesh’s first ever hat trick on Friday, edged Shabbir Ahmed for Rashid Latif to take a diving catch in front of the first slip making 16, the second best score of the innings.
Mashrafe Mortaza and Mohammad Rafique took Bangladesh past their lowest Test total of 87, made against the West Indies last year, before Umar Gul took the last two wickets to end the innings. He finished with three wickets for 16 runs, 12 of those coming off three successive boundaries hit by Mashrafe.
Pakistan won last week’s first Test in Karachi by seven wickets.
Later, Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore was stunned by his team’s nine-wicket defeat in the second Test on Saturday.
“I am at a loss to describe the defeat. I would say it is a mental thing with the players. I really think we were in a position to win”, said Whatmore.
Bangladesh skipper Khaled Mahmud was more realistic.”I am not disappointed nor do I think it is a mental thing with the players. I think everyone tried hard. But for me Shoaib Akhtar was the difference between the two sides.”
“He bowled very fast and swung the ball even on this pitch. He is a world-class bowler”
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH (1st innings) 361 (Javed Omar 119, Habibul Bashar 97, Mohammad Ashraful 77; Shoaib Akhtar 6-50)
PAKISTAN (1st innings) 295 (Taufeeq Umar 75, Yousuf Youhana 64; Mohammad Rafique 5-118, Alok Kapali 3-3)
BANGLADESH (2nd Innings (overnight 52-4)
Hannan Sarkar c Taufiq b Shoaib Akhtar 7
Javed Omar c Rashid b Shoaib Akhtar 0
Habibul Bashar lbw b Umar Gul 28
M. Ashraful c Taufiq b Danish Kaneria 7
Rajin Saleh lbw b Shoaib Akhtar 6
Alok Kapali c Rashid b Shabbir Ahmed 16
Khaled Mashud lbw b Shoaib Akhtar 0
Khaled Mahmud lbw b Danish Kaneria 1
Mohammad Rafique not out 9
Mashrafe Mortaza b Umar Gul 14
Alamgir Kabir b Umar Gul 4
EXTRAS (lb-2 nb-2) 4
TOTAL (all out, 33.5 overs) 96
FALL OF WKTS: 1-7 2-20 3-43 4-43 5-64 6-64 7-65 8-75 9-90
BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 12-2-30-4 (nb-1), Shabbir Ahmed 7-2-21-1, Umar Gul 4.5-1-16-3, Danish Kaneria 10-3-27-2 (nb-1)
PAKISTAN (2nd Innings)
Mohammad Hafeez not out 102
Taufiq Umar c Mashrafe b Khaled 43
Yasir Hameed not out 18
EXTRAS (lb-1 w-1) 2
TOTAL (for one wicket, 47.3 overs) 165
FALL OF WKT: 1-140
DID NOT BAT: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Rashid Latif, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Umar Gul, Shoaib Malik
BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 7-1-26-0, Alamgir Kabir 7.3-1-39-0, Khaled Mahmud 14-5-28-1 (w-1), Mohammad Rafique 12-2-34-0, Alok Kapali 6-0-30-0, Mohammad Ashraful 1-0-7-0.
|
|
|
|
