ZCZC
BSP-06
CRICKET-BD-SHAKIB-WC
Listless bowling mars Shakib’s terrific century
DHAKA, June 9, 2019 (BSS)-Shakib Al Hasan who became the only second
Bangladeshi batsman to score a World Cup century after Mahmudullah Riyad rued
for their listless bowling, which came unstuck against England in Cardiff,
scripting their humiliating 106 runs defeat.
The ace all-rounder continued his rich vein of form in this World Cup with
119 ball-121, hitting a dozen of boundaries and one six but it went in vain
eventually as Bangladesh were dismissed for 280 in 48.5 overs after England
put up a monumental 386-6, their highest World Cup score.
Shakib’s century was third for Bangladesh in World Cup history with
Mahmudullah Riyad solely grabbing two, hitting those in consecutive two
matches against New Zealand and England in 2015 World Cup.
The century was Shakib’s third fifty plus innings in a row in this World
Cup, having scored 75 and 64 in the first two matches.
Shakib is the only batsman to fight it out against England with next best
was 44 from Mushfiqur, evidencing how one-man show the Bangladeshi batting
was. But it was bowling which let the side down, said Shakib.
“We were expecting a better bowling performance in this match. But
obviously England played brilliantly. Credit goes to their batsmen. The way
their openers started, and the way Buttler finished the innings was the
turning point of the match I think,” he said after the match.
“That’s been their (England) pattern for the last two, three years,
building up to this World Cup. So they are not going to change. We knew that
it’s always going to be tough for us. We knew that we had to take wickets in
regular intervals in order to keep the momentum down, which we couldn’t do
today. I think that’s why we lost the match,” he added.
Shakib also reasoned the size of Cardiff ground, which he believed went
against them. Cardiff has short straight boundaries but long square ones,
making it difficult for Bangladeshi bowlers to execute the plan properly.
“Our bowlers couldn’t bowl above 140 kph, so with this speed, they couldn’t
force them play to the side boundary. England players played through straight
boundary always, so the size of the ground made our task difficult,” he said.
Bangladesh had no answer to the England onslaught, despite having won the
toss and having opted to put the hosts into bat.
Opener Jason Roy smashed 153 while Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler both made
half-centuries as England’s total always looked beyond Bangladesh – who has
now lost two in a row following their impressive opening win over South
Africa.
The twin threats of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood – who both bowled north of
90mph again for England – also gave Shakib a proper examination.
“They are quick,” admitted Shakib. “It was a difficult challenge, but I
enjoyed it. Obviously they are the two quickest bowlers in this World Cup, so
I knew that it’s going to be tough, but I felt very happy with the way I
played them.”
BSS/SMP/GMR/1154 hrs