Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 149 Thu. October 21, 2004  
   
Front Page


Franklin strikes hosts down


For the second successive day it was nightmarish start for Bangladesh in the first Test against New Zealand at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The home side who began on 165-6 added just 12 runs before being bundled out by the ninth over. In a replay of Day One when the Tigers lost three wickets in the morning session the tail was mopped by left-armer James Franklin, who removed Manzarul Islam and Mohammad Rafique with the last two deliveries of his first over and then clean bowled number ten Tapash Baisya in the first ball of his second over to complete his first Test hattrick.

Franklin's hattrick was significant for a number of reasons. It was the second by a New Zealand bowler following off-spinner Peter Petherick against Pakistan in 1976-77 and he also emulated Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram who achieved feat here six years ago in an Asian Test Championship against Sri Lanka. The young bowler finished with career-best 5-28.

Stand-in-captain Khaled Mashud was left stranded on 23 not out after Tareq Aziz, having survived 22 balls without scoring, was dismissed by Jacob Oram and with that Bangladesh's innings folded at 177.

New Zealand closed on 207-5 but before the spin pair of Mohammad Rafique and Manzarul Islam hit back by sharing five wickets.

Oram (18 off 105 balls) and McCullum (48 off 75 balls) added 68 runs in an unbroken sixth wicket.

The Black Caps made a decent start against a toothless Bangladesh pace attack but as soon as the spinners came on, the complexion of the game changed.

Rafique made the first breakthrough in his third ball when he had opener Mark Richardson caught behind by Mashud for 15.

Top-scorer Matthew Sinclair, who made most of a life on 31 to score 76 off 173 balls, added 63 runs for the second wicket with Stephen Fleming but the middle-order lost its way after dismissal of the Kiwi skipper.

The elegant Fleming, having hit four boundaries in a 54-ball 29, began to walk after edging Manzarul to Mashud.

Manzarul, who ended with 2-54, sent back Scott Styris for two. The big-hitting all-rounder was dismissed in a bizarre fashion. Styris pushed the ball onto Rajin's knees and the Bangladesh vice-captain, fielding at short-leg, palmed an easy catch on the rebound.

The tourists' innings was halved with 133 runs on board when Rafique captured the wickets of Astle, caught at slip and Sinclair trapped lbw.

Sinclair's patient 219-minute essay was studded with eight hits across the park. Rafique is now one wicket away from 50 Test wickets.

Picture
New Zealand's hattrick hero James Franklin appeals for a leg before decision against Bangladesh batsman Manjarul Islam Rana yesterday, the second day of the first Test at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. PHOTO: STAR