The Dambulla magic of rains and gains

Cricket lovers proposed and the rains disposed! Sri Lanka had set a stiff target of 311 for Bangladesh to chase in their second ODI at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium today. The eagerly awaited Bangladesh's reply to the Lankan competitive target was interrupted to the moans and sighs of cricket fans.

The spectacular mountain range overlooking the valley formed a perfect scenic backdrop to the stadium but also a setting prone to downpours. And so came down the rains just past the halfway point of the ODI. By then, Taskin's hat-trick had not only stifled what was shaping up as a run-away total by Sri Lanka but also added confident note to the side preparing for a chase.

It cannot be lost on anyone that both sides had a crucial stake in the Dambulla match. It was a series winner encounter for Bangladesh and for Sri Lanka it was a battle for staying in contention.

A simplistic 'raindrops falling on the head' musicality is heard by way of a skin deep sense of relief drawn by some from a 'providential' stoppage of the game. They argue that no team chasing a target of 300 has ever defeated Sri Lanka at the Dambulla stadium. Even Duckworth-Lewis Method came in on a chat conjuring up a scary optical vision of a steep target having to be chased in rain-curtailed overs. This puts a chasing side at a relative disadvantage. Yet this is considered the best out of a set of worse options.

The funniest example of a dilemma faced in a multiple rain-delayed match had to do with the 1992 Cricket World Cup. At the game between England and South Africa, according to the then prevailing formulation, South Africa in the end found itself left with an absurd task of having to score 21 runs in one ball!

I would like to however argue, with all humility, that the rain has taken away a historic opportunity from Bangladesh to chase Sri Lanka's challenging total successfully.

There are plenty of high points to be derived from the inconclusive ODI in Dambulla to be confident about the third and final ODI in Colombo today. This is a decider — either we win the series or draw it.

What are the strong points we take from Dambulla to Colombo, not forgetting the lapses which better not be repeated?

On the flipside, in the 12th over, Bangladesh missed a chance off Mendis when he was on seven. He edged off the bowling of Mustafizur, the chance going abegging between Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah Riyad. Had it been taken Mendis' long partnerships with Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal could have been obviated. He went on to make his maiden century which basically helped build Sri Lanka's big total.

Bowling was below par for long stretches. Even Mustafizur had a bad day by his standards, bowling on both sides of the wicket, and the spinners were faulted for bowling on middle and leg. Mendis milked 74 of his 102 runs on the leg side.

What definitely stood out was Bangladesh's all-round brilliant fielding. Mushfique was outstandingly sharp behind the stumps. Opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka top-edging an in-swinger from Mashrafe, the ball went high. Mushfique ran to short fine leg to grab the catch.

The stumpings were electrifying with Mushfique's wonderful reflexes. Twice did the Test skipper take off his gloves to grab the ball tight and throw it at stumps with a marksman's precision. He stumped both Thisara Perera and Dilruwan Perera in similar fashion.

Taskin's hat-trick in the last over indicative of his prowess as a death bowler (in addition to Mustafizur) gave a delightful leap of the mind for all viewers. His hat-trick ball was 'the best of the lot' — Nuwan Pradeep was stupefied as his wicket lay in ruins by the sheer power of a yorker!

Although pacer Mustafizur Rahman could not perform to form, with Chandimal's wicket falling to him, he has the record of having taken 34 wickets in 13 ODI matches. He surpasses Sri Lanka's Ajanta Mendis.

His almost eye-catching presence on Sri Lanka's scorecard for having taken a wicket, two catches, if I am not wrong, and the run-outs off his bowling attests to his usefulness as a cricketer. But his uniqueness as a bowler needs a greater nurture.

The writer is a commentator on current affairs and former Associate Editor, The Daily Star.

E-mail: shahhusainimam@gmail.com