An inexplicable collapse

Bangladesh suffered a 67-run defeat against New Zealand in the second One-Day International at the Saxton Oval in Nelson yesterday. They were bundled out for 184 in 42.2 overs chasing a massive New Zealand total of 251.

A massive total! This phrase was applicable for a Bangladesh team long ago when anything above 200 was beyond their reach. But for this new generation of Bangladesh cricketers this was a total they were supposed to topple despite the fact that they were playing in foreign conditions.

It was at this very ground they chased down 318 during the 2015 World Cup against Scotland. So, when they restricted the Black Caps to what any team would consider a below-par total or according to New Zealand batsman Neil Broom 'a fighting total', Bangladesh had every reason to eclipse that score.

They were on course towards that goal when opener Imrul Kayes and Sabbir took the score to 105 for one in 23 overs after the soft dismissal of Tamim Iqbal. But the run-out of Sabbir in comical fashion changed the complexion and Bangladesh lost their last nine wickets for 79 runs.

The collapse is simply inexplicable. Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza attributed the run-out of Sabbir as the turning point of the game. So did Broom, who hit a fine maiden ODI century in his side's fighting total. Want an input of chief selector Minhajul Abedin? He will tell you he was convinced Bangladesh have lost the game when the opposition scored 250. “Gavin Larson told me 250 was not a safe score on this wicket. But I told him since you already crossed 220 our batsmen will not be able to chase down the total.”

But for those who watched the game and had a good understanding of the wicket, this collapse has more reasons than just a run-out. It was actually a collective explosion of mind for no good reason.

Four batsmen departed after that in quick succession playing nothing shots. Mahmudullah Riyad scored one before being bowled by a good yorker from Lockie Ferguson. It was a good yorker but an experienced batsman like Mahmudullah, who seemed to be expecting a bouncer, should have done enough to readjust his mode of action. The next three batsmen were out to an occasional off-spinner in New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

Shakib Al Hasan cut straight to the short third man fielder after scoring seven, Mosaddek Hossain deposited a tame catch to mid-off and debutant leg-spinning all-rounder Tanbir Hayder stepped down the pitch and made an innocuous delivery into a yorker and was stumped.

The three wickets in quick succession might have even surprised the Kiwi captain, whose intention when he came into the attack was more to do with breaking the menacing partnership between Sabbir and Imrul. But of all the wickets that have been gifted the most crucial was that of Shakib's.

Shakib has made it a habit of throwing his wicket away. The notion that this is the way he plays is increasingly becoming too irritating for anyone's liking. With Mushfiqur Rahim not around due to a hamstring injury, it was expected that he should play more responsibly for the cause of the team. He scored a fine half-century in the last game Christchurch. The compulsive stroke-maker was out playing too many shots. We are not sure whether he has got the license from the team management to play to his whim. Otherwise somebody has to redress his role in the team.

Imrul perhaps scored the most fortunate 59 in his long career. Dropped once, a survived caught and bowled chance, reprieved off a stumping, almost caught at slip and then came out the lucky one in the bizarre run out -- the left-handed opener miserably failed to cash in on a charmed life. After playing so many dot balls early in his innings, he was supposed to carry on till the end. But he also threw his wicket away instead of trying till the end.

The batting combination after the injury of Mushfiqur and following the decision to drop Soumya Sarker is also a bit puzzling. Tanbir came in as a replacement for Soumya under the pretext that he is an attacking leg-spinner who can be a useful batsman at number seven. How good a leg-spinner he is may still be debatable, but the first impression as a batsman was uninspiring. The number seven batsman in the Tigers' batting line-up has played a key role for the last couple of years and in the absence of Mushfiqur it has become more important to give some solidity in the lower-middle order.

We have 22 players travelling together since the conditioning camp started in Sydney earlier this month, but it looks like we have got more travellers than serious contenders in the team. We have got a chief selector who announces a 15-member team after the coach's public announcement that Nurul Hasan was playing in place of an injured Mushfiqur in the second ODI. We are experimenting too much with a well-drilled unit. And one can't rule out that this batting debacle is a by-product of a confusing atmosphere prevailing in the Tigers camp.