Just Shakib things
There were tense faces in the Comilla Victorians dugout prior to the start of the game as they searched for a first win in the Bangladesh Premier League and, at the other end of the spectrum, was the skipper of Fortune Barishal. Shakib Al Hasan was quietly sitting in a corner, observing proceedings.
From time to time, the 35-year-old, who has been suffering from a cold for the past few days, sipped on an electrolyte drink. A little while later, the southpaw returned after his second-best BPL knock, scoring 81 off just 45 balls with four sixes and eight fours.
The 35-year-old has been in fine form since the start of the BPL, striking a blistering 67 in the opening game against Sylhet Strikers. He took off again yesterday after coming to bat in the seventh over against Comilla with his side on 50 for two after being asked to bat.
Before the start of the BPL, Shakib had worked on his batting in solitude with his mentor, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, and the results were evident in his trigger movements and how he used the crease to find the perfect balance.
Shakib opened his account with a square cut to a rather good delivery just outside off stump from left-arm spinner Khushdil Shah and it was a reflection of what he had worked on in the nets a few days ago.
The left hander's presence of mind and game sense, especially when it comes to anticipating bowlers, has been instrumental to Shakib's success as a batter, but he also used every corner of the ground effectively during his knock yesterday.
From flicks towards the midwicket region off pacer Hasan Ali to his clean swing of the bat for a hit down the ground over the head of Mosaddek Hossain, it was a true batting masterclass from Shakib.
The experienced campaigner kept the tempo high during the middle overs after the Powerplay, hitting a six and two fours to off-spinner Nayeem Hasan in an eighth over that yielded 16 runs.
Despite losing partners, Shakib continued to play his natural 'fearless cricket' and went on to reach his fifty off just 31 balls as Barishal reached 133 for four in 16 overs.
After reaching his fifty, Shakib geared up for more and scored his next 23 runs off just nine deliveries between the 16th and 18th overs as Barishal began to eye another 200-plus total.
But Comilla's left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam dented those plans, picking up the important wickets of in-form Iftekhar Ahmed and Mahmudullah Riyad in the 19th over while conceding just five runs.
Shakib remained unbeaten after striking four sixes and eight fours and led Barishal to a total of 177 for six, a total that helped them win by 12 runs.
After the game, Soumya Sarkar and Nasir Hossain were taking tips from Shakib, with the veteran advising: "You have to get the proper backlift with the shoulders in the line of the delivery and wait with perfect balance. Since the pitch is good, all you need is swing the bat in line with the ball and watch what happens."
To listeners, it seemed all too easy, it seemed like just another day at the office for Shakib.