Bangladhishum dhishum

Pay attention to the scoreboard of a rather insignificant match between touring England and hosting Banladesh-A, that recently concluded. 


There was nothing much of note in the first two and half innings down the scoresheet, until the two Bangla blokes - Hom and Mahmud - started behaving like they had downed 6-packs of Red Bull each.


Hom, the #7 batsman of Bangladesh-A team slammed 91 in 30 deliveries with 8 sixes and 10 fours at a strike rate of over 300. His deputy, the #8 batsman Dolar Mahmud did even better. He thrashed 66 in 16 deliveries with 6 sixes and 7 fours. That is 13 strokes and 64 of 66 runs to the fence in just 13 deliveries, and a strike rate of 400+. 


Together (not as partners, but added individually) these two slammed 157 runs in 46 deliveries, 31 of whom hit the fence. In a blitz of hyper-scoring, the Bangladesh-A team total went from 160 to 360 in 11 overs flat. 


Alistari Cook, admittedly a non-bowler, went for 111 in 5 overs at 22 runs an over, which could be a probable record for the worst bowling figures in a first class match.... I'm inclined to say even in a galli match. (With due apologies to the greatest of statisticians, Sir B B Mama).


This was awesome clubbing even by club match standards. What makes this noteworthy is that it involved an international cricketing side on the receiving end.


There was an  anticlimax to all this. One would have thought that after conceding their dignity to Bangladesh batsmen, England would try to save face by launching a counter attack with gusto to finish the 284 runs offered to them in 52 overs and win yet. They had ample opportunity to get back on track after Hom and Mahmud threw them off course.


How much did they manage? 185 in 52 overs. 


My only crib in all this is why on earth did the Bangladesh captain Mohamamd Ashraful not let Hom and Mahmud bat for just 2-3 more overs ? It would have been enough for both of them to finish their centuries had they continued to stay on course. I am sure we had a chance of witnessing a record of sorts, of two of the fastest centuries ever recorded, and that too in the same innings of a match.