Roar of the Tigers - A Test Championship Journey

[kanegan]

Getting inspired from bhagwati's career around Test Championship, i decided to start one of my own as the Jamaican career was getting a bit too boring. I have decided to go with a rising power in Asia, Bangladesh who had been consistently performing well over the last couple of years but they don't have a trophy to show for that.

Could they change that??

They start the Test Championship on a very tough assignment: A 2 test series away to India.

Bangladesh Squad for India Series

M Ashraful, Soumya Sarkar, N Hossain, Mahmudullah, Kayes, Saifuddin, Nazimuddin, Taijul Islam, A Jayed, Mustafizur, Shakib Al Hasan, R Hossain, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed

There was lot of controversies over selection of 35 yr old Ashraful in place of Tamim Iqbal but the board of selectors wanted to reward his brilliant domestic form and Tamim had been poor in tests prior to this against Afghanistan when he made 2 & 7

[bhagwati]

Good luck mate.This same series is up next for me too.

[kanegan]

Good luck mate.This same series is up next for me too.

Thanks and ya, i could see that. Best of luck to you too although the way you are performing, you don't need much luck.

[bhagwati]

Thanks and ya, i could see that. Best of luck to you too although the way you are performing, you don't need much luck.

I was lucky in series against south africa, rain saved me in the 1st test & won 2nd test by 29 runs only. It could easily have been 2-1 to south africa.

[kanegan]

TEST SERIES AGAINST INDIA - 1st Test at Delhi

India won the toss and elected to bat first.

1st Inns - India

Shaw started well with 44 off 42 and then Kohli and Dhawan took it further with half centuries from each of them but Saifuddin brought
us back sending both of them . Pant then showed why he is touted so highly by the experts with 153* off 236 (27x4, 1x6) as India post 489.
Shakib and Saifuddin took 4 wickets apiece.


1st Inns - Bangladesh

Ashraful repaid the trust put on him with a well made 73 but Ashwin sent him back and then Bumrah got Sarkar and Hossain in quick
successions but Kayes and Shakib combined to put on a big partnership and then Saifuddin played a good innings as we post 443.
Bumrah and Kuldeep took 4 wickets apiece for India.



2nd Inns - India

Vihari played a good innings at the top and then Dhawan and Mukund grabbed runs but it was not enough as they could post only 263.
The two spinners, Shakib and Taijul took 3 apiece. Shakib finished with 7 wickets in the test match. We need 290 in the last day to win.


2nd Inns - Bangladesh

Soumya Sarkar put his failure in the 1st innings behind and proceeded to play the best knock of his career and stay unbeaten - 174 off 193 (28x4, 3x6) and stitched a great 138 run partnership with Shakib as we win the match and win our 1st overseas test since the 2017 win at Sri Lanka.


Bangladesh won by 8 wickets.
MOM: Shakib Al Hasan

[bhagwati]

Great win to start with.

[kanegan]

Great win to start with.

Thanks mate.

[kanegan]

TEST SERIES AGAINST INDIA - 2nd Test at Kolkata

India won the toss and elected to bat first again.

1st Inns - India

Vihari made another patient 42 and Pujara, Kohli, Dhawan and Mukund contributed and Ashwin and Kuldeep frustrated us with their partnership as they took India to 438.
Rubel Hossain was the wrecker-in-chief with 4/114 and Taijul took 3 wickets.


1st Inns - Bangladesh

Ashraful made yet another half century and Sarkar played another brilliant knock with 171 while Shakib contributed with a century of his own as we take
the 1st Innings lead. Kuldeep Yadav took 6/190 to register a 5 wicket haul.



2nd Inns - India

Shaw, Pujara and Kohli made half centuries but Taijul again took 3 wickets to restrict India to 338. So, we needed 287 again from the last day and we were
confident as we had chased a similar target in the last test.


2nd Inns - Bangladesh

Ashraful and Sarkar combined again and this time brought us the test and our second consecutive win and with it, the series. Ashraful was unlucky to miss out on a century.


Bangladesh won by 7 wickets.
MOM: Soumya Sarkar

[kanegan]

Test Championship Points Table

So, we log in the maximum 120 points after the clean sweep against India. A dream start for us as we go to Sharjah next against Pakistan.


Talking Points

Hits

Soumya Sarkar - With three 150+ scores in 4 innings, this man turned the series on it's head and was instrumental in us chasing the target in both the tests. Definitely the MVP of the series.

Shakib Al Hasan - The master all-rounder managed two half-centuries and a breathtaking century in 2nd innings of second test and took 10 wickets in the series to stamp his authority.

Mohd Ashraful - This man made the most of his comeback with three half centuries in the series and cemented his place for the future series as well.

Taijul Islam - Partnered Shakib in the spin department and made crucial breakthroughs.


Misses

Mahmudullah - Got out cheaply whenever he got chance and even though he is still in contention, another poor showing will lead to drop.

[kanegan]

Squad for Pakistan

Das comes in place of Mahmudullah as he is injured while Khaled Ahmed gets his chance at the expense of Rubel.

[kanegan]

TEST SERIES AGAINST PAKISTAN - 1st Test at Sharjah

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

1st Inns - Pakistan

Shafiq, Shadab Khan and Hassan Ali all made half centuries but Mustafizur takes a fiver and Shakib rattles 3 as we restrict Pakistan to 303.


1st Inns - Bangladesh

Ashraful continues his good work at the top with yet another half century and Kayes and Shakib also chipped in with 50's but the real surprise was Liton Das who grabbed this opportunity with both hands and made a brilliant century as we settle at 413.


2nd Inns - Pakistan

Shafiq continued his brilliant test with a century and was ably supported by Babar Azam who hit 95 but Taijul's fiver meant we got Pakistan out at 343.


2nd Inns - Bangladesh

Soumya Sarkar, just remember the name.!!! His third successive century while chasing means we win our 3rd consecutive overseas test. Brilliant from him. Kayes supported well with 47.


Bangladesh won by 5 wickets.
MOM: A Shafiq

[bhagwati]

Sarkar is in bradmanesque form.

[kanegan]

Sarkar is in bradmanesque form.

Yup, he is currently having the run of his life.

[kanegan]

TEST SERIES AGAINST PAKISTAN - 2nd Test at Abu Dhabi

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

1st Inns - Pakistan

After losing the first test, they came back with a vengeance as centuries from Imam ul-Haq and Ghulam and half centuries from Shafiq and Ali propelled
them to a massive 578. Taijul was the star bowler for us with 7/138


1st Inns - Bangladesh

But never look down on us. Sarkar continued his good form with 65 and Liton Das chipped in with 70 but Imrul Kayes chose this test to make history
as he hit 212 facing over 503 balls and pushed us to 508.


2nd Inns - Pakistan

In the haste of forcing a win, Pakistan declared at 189/8 powered by Ali's 44 and set us a target of 259 in last day with only three sessions to go.
Taijul took 3 wickets to book another 10 for in a test match. Can we do the impossible??


2nd Inns - Bangladesh

Yes, we can. Sarkar and Ashraful set us up with a pacy and brilliant opening stand and Kayes continued the good work before the middle order chipped in and we pulled off an unlikely victory.

This team is performing like a dream. Let's hope we keep this going.


Bangladesh won by 6 wickets.
MOM: Imrul Kayes

[kanegan]

Test Championship Points Table

We go straight to second after winning two tests again and gaining a maximum 240 points from 4 tests.


Talking Points

Hits

Soumya Sarkar - With another century while chasing and two half centuries, this man continues to build world class reputation for him.

Imrul Kayes - After a record breaking double century, Kayes has forced his way into superstardom

Liton Das - He made the most of his chance as replacement for Mahmudullah and now he is currently the better choice.

Taijul Islam - He continues to be our primary wicket taker with 15 wickets added in 2 tests.


Misses

Mehdi Hasan - Couldn't take wickets when needed so he will be scrutinized much more closely in the next series.

Nazmul Hossain - Without a single substantial score in the series, he looks set for the axe.

Top 10 Test Batsman

Sarkar leads from the front as he takes 2nd position, just behind Travis Head while Kayes forces his way to 6th.



Top 10 Test Bowlers

Taijul Islam is the lone Bangladeshi in the top 10 as he takes up 4th position with 618 rating points.