Brave Bengal Tigers made Bangladesh proud again. A determined bunch of brilliant cricketers roared like real Royal Bengal Tigers at Shere Bangla National stadium to turn the table on world champion India. Bangladesh out gunned India by 5 wickets in a thrilling encounter on a day when Indian Cricket Legend - one and only Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar stepped into immortality scoring his century of century. The day was however the death anniversary of a budding Bangladeshi cricketer Manzar Rana who was killed in a tragic road accident. Captain Mushfique who himself played a blistering knock dedicated the victory to the memory of Manzar Rana. Bangladeshi cricketers spoiled the Indian party to celebrate the epic incident of Sachins monumental achievement. Bangladesh victory was a massive team effort. A day when everyone contributed. A committed team effort of a never say die unit. Such an event of joy for all Bangladeshis all over the world glove hardly comes. Tigers made Bangladesh proud again.
Mushfique won the toss and when he put India to bat few experts thought it unwise. Billions of cricket lovers were eagerly waiting for a special SRT event – century of Centuries which eluded him for a year. Gautam Gambhir and Tendulkar started cautiously against accurate pace attack of always lively Mashrafee and young Shafiul. Inform Gautam was quickly accounted for by young Shafiul. Mashrafee with his controlled seam bowling kept Kohli and Sachin quiet. But this pair great Sachin and sizzling Kohli played beautifully to lay a solid foundation. Sachin made a solid stride to his most expected century of centuries. A solid partnership of 148 in 30 overs between Sachin and Kohli appeared to have given a foundation where lot more was expected. But after Kohli left and Sachin completed his history creating century Bangladeshis bowled and fielded brilliliantly restricting India below 300. Still a score of 289/5 appeared to many more than enough. Sachin played a masterly strokeful innings. But as it always happens such a milestone always slowed down the run rate a little bit. Sachin played 147 deliveries for his 114 and Kohli consumed 82 balls for his 66. Sachin later in his interview mentioned that ball was coming a bit slowly off the wicket making stroke play a bit difficult. But a 38 ball 51 of Raina proved it wrong. India perhaps scored 25-30 runs less on the wicket. Mashrafee struck two vital blows removing Raina and Tendulkar in successive deliveries.
Bangladesh looked a determined unit from the start. Nazimuddin returned early. But Tamim played yet another masterpiece proving a point that his alleged axing from the team by BCB president was going to be a suicide. Jahurul played an impressive innings. Second wicket partnership of 113 between Tamim and Jahurul in 24.1 overs laid the foundation for the middle order create avalanche. A blizzard of brilliant Saquib striking 49 in 31 deliveries with two towering sixes and five scorching boundaries changed the momentum of the match. Nasir played admirably well striking 54 in 58 deliveries. Still the target looked stiff. But our little master Mushfique exploded blowing Indians with a hurricane innings of 44 not out in only 24 deliveries. His back to back sixes of Irfan Pathan put the nails in Indian coffin. Bangladesh won the match by 5 wickets with 4 balls still left to play.Indian bowling was shredded to all parts of the park.
This match will definitely go down in cricket history as one of the most memorable for several reasons. The man from another planet Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar scored his hudrenth hundred – a feat which none may ever replicate. Bangladesh could win a match chasing a huge target of 290 in brilliant fashion. No praise can be enough for little Mushfique and his men. How better tigers could dedicate the day to their favorite mate Manzar Rana.
March 19, 2012, 2:04 am
