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Home , Angelo Mathews, Duleep Mendis

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 SPORTS

Beaten but unbowed, Bangladesh plead for more Tests

CHITTAGONG: Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim -mad nation. Rahim made his Test them back in five-day cricket. “You can invited to join the game’s top table 16 Hasan) and Shakib (Al Hasan) bowled pleaded yesterday for Bangladesh to be debut back in 2005, the same year that always improve if you play more Tests,” years ago, ’s newest nation has well. Tamim (Iqbal) batted well... it was a given more Test matches after the cricket- his opposite number Alastair Cook made said Rahim. “I have felt that each of my lost 72 of its 94 Tests and won just seven- good Test for Bangladesh,” he said. ing minnows fell agonisingly short of an his first appearance for his country. But Tests has been like a debut game, and I five of them against fellow strugglers The 18-year-old Hasan took six historic victory over . While while Cook broke the England record in have played 49 Tests so far. “I think we Zimbabwe. on his debut while Tamim’s fighting 78 England’s main challenge is to manage Chittagong by winning his 134th cap, should play more Tests, which will give Bangladesh entered the fifth and final helped Bangladesh post a competitive their players’ workload, Bangladesh strug- Rahim was making only his 49th appear- you more consistency in the other for- day of the first Chittagong Test needing first innings total, albeit less than they gle to arrange series against top-flight ance-a stark illustration of how little Test mats.” Bangladesh were to have hosted just 33 runs for victory with two wickets hoped for at one stage after a lower- opponents and the just-concluded match cricket Bangladesh are exposed to. for a Test series last year but the left, but could only add 10 to their order collapse. Rahim said the outcome in Chittagong was their first Test in 15 While Bangladesh have made big tour was scrapped at the last minute over overnight score. should not be blown out of proportion. months. While have agreed to host strides in one-day cricket, winning six safety fears. England’s tour was also in Rahim refused to be downhearted and “If we would have won, we wouldn’t their first-ever Test match against homes series in a row before losing to doubt after a deadly attack on a cafe in said there were many reasons to be become an extraordinary Test side. But Bangladesh next year, it will be a one-off England earlier this month, Rahim says Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka in July which proud at running England so close. “We we ended up achieving much of what we and will do little to sate the hunger of a their lack of opportunities is holding was popular with tourists. Since being can take a lot of positives-Miraz (Mehedi had set ourselves.” — AFP Pakistan sniff series clinching win in Test

ABU DHABI: Pakistan pressed West Indies Mohammad Nawaz. Brathwaite had com- hard for a series-clinching win in the sec- pleted his 11th half-century with a three ond Test after setting a daunting 456-run run drive off paceman Sohail Khan-his first target on the fourth day in yes- in this series. terday. By close of play Pakistan had taken West Indies’ task of saving the Test was four wickets at 171 leaving the West Indies made even more difficult after they lost to bat out the fifth and final day today or Leon Johnson (nine) and Darren Bravo (13) score a further 285 runs with six wickets with the total on 63. Johnson tried to intact for an unlikely win. sweep a from Shah only to drag it No team has ever chased down more on to his stumps after hitting the bat and than the 418-7 West Indies managed glove. against Australia at Antigua 13 years ago Bravo, who scored a fighting 116 in and on a weary last day pitch they will Dubai, slashed a drive off fast bowler Rahat need a huge effort to stop Pakistan from Ali straight to point where Mohammad taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. Pakistan Nawaz held a head high catch. Pakistan won the first Test-a day-night affair played added 113 runs in the first session to set up with the pink ball — by 56 runs in Dubai. their declaration. Shafiq scored his second Pakistan had declared their second fifty of the match with three boundaries innings on 227-2 at lunch, with Asad Shafiq after Azhar Ali was dismissed for 79. on 58 (his 16th Test half century) Resuming at 114-1 Pakistan were unable and Younis Khan 29 to give their bowlers to score quick runs as West Indian enough time to force a win. Jason Holder kept a tight field, with only At close Jermaine Blackwood was five boundaries in the session. unbeaten on 41 and with him Roston Ali, who scored a career best 302 not Chase 17 not out as the two foiled out in Dubai, edged Miguel Cummins to Pakistan’s bowling during an unbroken 47- slip where Holder took a sharp catch for the run stand for the fifth . fast bowler’s first wicket in the series. The duo carried the fight initiated by Ali hit five boundaries during his 137- opener Kraigg Brathwaite who scored a ball stay at the crease. West Indies bowlers fighting 67 with six boundaries and a six. tried valiantly for more wickets but Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels (23) had spurned a review when Holder trapped added 49 for the third wicket but both fell Younis in front of the wicket but television in the space of 12 runs, Samuels giving a replays showed the ball was missing the return catch to leg-spinner Yasir Shah while stumps. The third and final Test will be Brathwaite trapped leg-before wicket by played in Sharjah from October 30. —AFP SCOREBOARD CHITTAGONG: England’s captain Alastair Cook (top 3rd L) celebrates with teammates after beating Bangladesh during the final day’s play of the ABU DHABI: Scoreboard Monday at stumps on the fourth day of the second test between Pakistan and first Test cricket match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium in Chittagong yesterday. — AFP West Indies at Sheikh Zayed Stadium:

Pakistan 1st Innings: 452 7-0-22-0, Roston Chase 6-0-26-0. West Indies 1st Innings: 224 Ben Stokes leads England to Pakistand 2nd Innings West Indies 2nd Innings (Overnight: 114-1) Kraigg Brathwaite lbw b Nawaz 67 Sami Aslam c Hope b Gabriel 50 Leon Johnson b Shah 9 Azhar Ali c Holder b Cummins 79 Darren Bravo c Nawaz b Rahat Ali 13 22-run win over Bangladesh Asad Shafiq not out 58 Marlon Samuels c and b Shah 23 Younis Khan not out 29 Jeremaine Blackwood not out 41 Extras: (4b, 3lb, 1w, 3nb) 11 Roston Chase not out 17 CHITTAGONG: He might feel entitled to a TOTAL: (for 2 wickets dec.) 227 Extras: (1lb) 1 breather after a back-breaking effort in his SCOREBOARD Overs: 67. TOTAL: (for 4 wickets) 171 team’s latest Test triumph but England’s ‘X-fac- Fall of wickets: 1-93, 2-164. Overs: 62. tor’ Ben Stokes said he’d rather be dropped than Did not bat: Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-63, 3-112, 4-124. CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: Scoreboard yesterday at the close of the first test between rested during a marathon tour of the sub-conti- Bangladesh and England at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium: Mohammad Nawaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Still to bat: Shai Hope, Jason Holder, Devendra nent. The lion-hearted Stokes was named man Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali Bishoo, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel. Bowling: Shannon Gabriel 12-2-36-1 (2nb), Miguel Bowling: Sohail Khan 10-2-24-0, Rahat Ali 14-1-40- of the match on Monday for his starring role in England 1st innings: 293 Kamrul Islam c Ballance b Broad 0 Cummins 7-0-26-1 (1nb 1w), Kraigg Brathwaite 15- 1, Yasir Shah 18-2-60-2, Zulfiqar Babar 15-5-32-0, England’s nail-biting first Test win over Bangladesh 1st innings: 248 Taijul Islam lbw Stokes 16 2-33-0, Devendra Bishoo 20-0-77-0, Jason Holder Mohammad Nawaz 5-0-14-1. Bangladesh in which he scored a crucial half England 2nd innings: 240 Shafiul Islam lbw Stokes 0 century and took six wickets. Bangladesh 2nd innings:(Resumed at 253-8) Extras: (9b, 13lb, 1w) 23 After for more than three hours while Tamim Iqbal c Ballance b Ali 9 TOTAL: (all out) 263. making 85 on Saturday, Stokes then bowled Imrul Kayes c Root b Rashid 43 Overs: 81.3. superbly in Bangladesh’s second innings and Mominul Haque lbw Batty 27 Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-81, 3-103, 4-108, 5-140, 6-227, finished the match with six wickets in tempera- Mahmudullah lbw Batty 17 7-234, 8-238, 9-263, 10-263. tures hitting 32 degrees celsius. Shakib Al Hasan c Bairstow b Ali 24 Bowling: Gareth Batty 17-3-65-3, Moeen Ali 14-2-60- Stokes began the year by scoring a career Mushfiqur Rahim c Ballance b Batty 39 2, Chris Woakes 7-3-10-0, Adil Rashid 17-2-55-1, best 258 in a Test against but after Sabbir Rahman not out 64 15-4-31-2, Ben Stokes 11.3-2-20-2 (1w) England’s dramatic 22-run victory in Mehedi Hasan lbw Broad 1 : England wins by 22 runs. Chittagong, the Durham player classed it as his most complete performance so far. “Overall, I think it is,” the 25-year-old replied will be desperate that he remains fit was absolutely crucial to his team’s prospects. when asked if he thought it was the most satis- throughout the winter in which England “I say it every single time we speak about fying match. Stokes said he was particularly will play a total of seven Tests, including him, the guy is that x-factor cricketer which pleased with having improved his technique five against India. every side would love to have,” said Cook. against the spinners, saying he had always been “He balances our side, he gives us options, he able to “take the aggressive route” but had now I’D RATHER BE DROPPED’ allows us to play the extra seamer here or an given himself more options. Stokes was also the vice-captain in a preced- extra spinner, whichever way you look at it.” Stokes said he had been putting in the hours, ing ODI series against Bangladesh while Cook also praised Stokes for his improve- “making sure that my defence is tight and still England are due to play six further limited overs ment against the spinners, which was highlight- having options to be able to rotate the strike internationals against India early in the new ed by his maiden ODI century in Dhaka earlier when they do bowl the ball in a good area”. year. The workload means that England selec- this month. “The one thing he has done over the He had also been working on his concentra- tors could well be tempted to give Stokes a rest last year is improve his method against spin,” tion levels so “that I’m switched on enough that in one or two Tests, especially if they are dead said Cook. “I don’t want to say I’m surprised but ABU DHABI: The West Indies’ batsman Roston Chase (R) plays a shot as Pakistani if there is a bad ball to come along-because rubbers-but he made clear that he would reject it surprised me how well he scored that hun- wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed looks on during the fourth day of the second Test there aren’t going to be many-I still put it away any such overtures. “I’ll play all seven (Tests) if I dred and... it just showed what a lot of hard between Pakistan and the West Indies at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu for four or six.” Stokes’ career has been inter- still get picked, I’d rather get dropped,” he said. work can do and he can take a lot of credit for Dhabi yesterday. — AFP rupted by several injuries and the selectors England skipper Alastair Cook said Stokes that.” — AFP Lanka’s oldest captain banks on youngsters

COLOMBO: ’s oldest ever skip- against Australia with a maiden Test hat- per yesterday said he trick and ended up man of the series. hoped to build on the recent Test white- “What our young players lack in experi- wash against Australia despite leading a ence they make up with confidence,” young and inexperienced team to Herath said. “The victory against Zimbabwe. The 38-year-old spinner Australia has given us a huge boost. We became the oldest player named to hope to make a very significant impact head an overseas tour as regular captain in Zimbabwe.” and his deputy Dinesh There are three new faces in the Chandimal pulled out of the two-Test squad for Zimbabwe - fast bowlers series with injuries. Kasun Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara “I am pleased to be appointed cap- and allrounder Asela Gunaratne. The tain of the national team even at the first Test begins on October 29 in age of 38,” Herath told reporters in while the second is scheduled from before the team’s departure to November 6 at the same venue. Harare. “It is true that we don’t have Herath becomes the oldest Sri Lankan experienced players, but we have a lot player to be named skipper of the of confidence after winning against national team at the start of a Test series. Australia,” the veteran spinner said refer- In 1983, leg-spinner Somachandra de ring to Sri Lanka’s historic series win Silva was asked to lead the team when against the then world number one regular skipper was COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews (C), Sri Lanka’s oldest ever skipper Rangana Herath (L) and look on during a press team in a three-match tournament end- injured during a three-day practice conference in Colombo yesterday. Sri Lanka’s oldest ever skipper Rangana Herath said he hoped to build on the recent Test whitewash against ing in August. match in New Zealand ahead of two Australia despite leading a young and inexperienced team to Zimbabwe. The 38-year-old spinner became the oldest player named to head an Herath set up Sri Lanka’s success Tests. De Silva was 40 at the time. — AFP overseas tour as regular captain Angelo Mathews and his deputy Dinesh Chandimal pulled out of the two-Test series with injuries. — AFP