Two-Faced Bangers Get Mashed

Mushfiqur 53 before going the slog

The two sides of how Bangladesh face up to Test cricket were never more easily identified as on the last day of the final Test of the series against Pakistan played at Mirpur. In the morning, Nasir Hosssain and Mushfiqur Rahim were solid in defence and confident in their stroke play. After lunch, five wickets fell in 18 overs, reckless shots were played and Pakistan raced to their target.

Even though Cheema and Gul started the day for Pakistan after their success on the fourth afternoon, it was obvious the spinners would be the greatest danger. Bangladesh had further favours with the fog returning and moving the starting time back into the morning. The constant interruptions in this test should have convinced authorities that an 8:30am start is impossible in Mirpur, regardless of the concerns with light at the end of the day. After the quicks made little impression, Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman came on and although tightening the scoring, Nasir and Mushfiqur still managed to tick the scoreboard over, edging past slips a few times but gradually building a total. The pair added 86 in the first session.

Time was Pakistan's biggest worry in securing a win and wickets were needed quickly after lunch. Abdur Rehman started what was to be a landslide, bowling Nasir with a Boon special, a nudie which came straight on from the left armer, landing middle and leg and hitting off. It was Nasir's highest score so far in only a four Test career and ended a partnership with his skipper of 117 for the sixth wicket. The spinners applied the pressure and the next six overs produced only nine runs which apparently proved too much for Mushfiqur. After three hours and nearly 150 deliveries, having just bought up his half century, he jumped down the track at Rehman aiming to loft over the long off boundary, was done in flight and simply plopped an undroppable catch to mid off. It was a lame and unpardonable self implosion from a skipper who had lectured his batsmen on circumspection after the first Test.

From there, it was a quick end, with Rehman and Ajmal far too good for the tail and Bangladesh had surrendered 5-22.

Hafeez took control - 47 of 52

Pakistan were against the conditions to reach the winning target but moved with intent at more than five an over, showing that they know where the accelerator is but prefer to conserve first innings fuel by reaching their goal safely. Taufeeq became frustrated after four overs of dots and played a poor shot to leave early. Mohammad Hafeez took control and made a run a ball 47 which was gold in the circumstances, as was Azahr Ali's quickened pace. Both were out close to the end, which Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq made sure of with judicious hitting as the umpires were checking their light meters. Misbah sealed the win with a six over long off from the second ball he faced. The spinners were no answer for the aggression of Pakistan's batsmen, especially given the small target they were defending.

Pakistan won the series 2-0, moving past Sri Lanka on the ICC Test table up to fifth position - something Sri Lanka looks unlikely to change in the remaining Tests of their series against South Africa. Pakistan are now four points behind Australia. To catch them over the summer, Australia would have to lose all of the Tests in the series against India and Pakistan would have to make a huge dent in the world No 1, England, in their three Test series in the UAE in February/March.

Still, stranger things have happened on a country road.