Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has faith in fast bowlers

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza celebrates with Taskin Ahmed after the fall of an Indian wicket during the 1st game of the 3-match ODI series at Mirpur. Photo: STAR

Shaquib Tayeem Ahmed

Bangladesh ODI team’s captain Mashrafe Mortaza has full confidence in his fast bowlers to compete at the highest level of cricket especially in 50-over matches.
Bangladesh soundly trounced India by 79 runs in the first game of the 3-match ODI series at Mirpur stadium on June 18, 2015.
India couldn't last the 50 overs and slumped to their worst loss to Bangladesh in terms of runs across all ODIs.
Mashrafe attributed the success to his debutant left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman and his fast-bowling colleagues, easily out-performing their Indian counterparts during the first match.
"I always preferred three pacers since I became captain. I firmly believe that bowlers win matches. The kind of bowling that Mustafizur does… I was really confident about the decision.
Fortune favours the brave and so I am really happy," said Mashrafe, adding that it was not an easy decision to leave out in-form left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny.

Mustafizur Rahman sent back Raina and Ashwin in consecutive balls during the first game of the 3-match ODI series against India at Mirpur. Photo: STAR

Indian ODI captain MS Dhoni recognized the damage done by Bangladeshi fast bowlers, highlighting their ability to extract greater lift from a sluggish pitch and canny use of variation.

"I think the variations that they used were pretty impressive," Dhoni said. "They didn't bowl 140 kph and a slower one of 115 kph. They mixed up the pace well and also they had more bowlers who got more bounce compared to our fast bowlers.
"Bounce, at times on slow wicket, is a harder thing to negotiate because it climbs onto you and still you don't have enough pace to work around,” Dhoni said during the post-match briefing.
“I felt they used the variations well. And still they knew what was the exact length that was needed to bowl and I felt that was the difference between the fast bowling units." he added.
Bangladesh captain had Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain and himself as the four-fast men during the first game against India of the 3-match series.
Rubel Hossain was the most expensive in his spell of six overs for 36 runs. Mashrafe got some punishment in the end and finished with a wicket in his 10 overs giving away 53 runs.
Debutant Mustafizur Rahman destroyed the Indian batting line-up with five wickets for 50 runs in 9.2 overs. Taskin Ahmed was most frugal, gave away only 21 runs in six overs with two wickets in his bag.

Taskin Ahmed of Bangladesh is delighted after picking up a wicket during the first game of the 3-match ODI series against India at Mirpur. Photo: STAR

On the contrary, Indian fast bowlers went for too many runs for their liking as they failed to adapt to the conditions at Mirpur stadium.
Mohit Sharma bowled 4.4 overs, was smashed for 53 runs but picked up a consolatory wicket. Umesh Yadav went for 7.25 runs in his eight overs. B Kumar gave away 5.28 runs in his seven overs.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe was naturally feeling a high while talking with media, after all his pre-match prediction of decimating opposing batsmen with fast bowlers came true to his delight.
Hope his pace attack can carry on their superb form into the next match against India on Sunday, June 21 and bring smiles to faces of millions of Bangladesh cricket fans home and abroad.