Defining moments

TIME TO PARTY: People from all walks of life throng the Teachers-Students Centre of the Dhaka University following Sunday's historic sporting triumph. PHOTO: STAR

The Tigers, however, proved yesterday against India that they had the capabilities to become a force in the game if everything clicks on a given day. Rarely do you find an example of such a total team effort in cricket. We at The Daily Star Sport singled out some of the moments that we believe defined Sunday night's classic:

* During yet another inevitable top-order collapse, captain Habibul Bashar smacks three boundaries in four deliveries off Zaheer Khan who had just removed Mohammad Rafique, in the second over of the match. The fire the skipper showed ignited his teammates to go on attacking and give the bowlers something to bowl at.

* Mohammad Ashraful and Aftab Ahmed repair the damages and play some brave shots to force the Indian fielding on to the defensive.

* The ever stubborn Bangladesh tail provides yet another heartening batting performance with Mashrafee bin-Mortuza at the centre of the fightback, salvaging the side from a struggling 168-7 to 229-9.

* As many as seven batsmen contribute in double figures with Aftab leading the way with a career best 67 as the Indian bowlers toil in the dying overs, conceding 39 runs in the last five.

* Chasing 230 to win in absence of batting aces Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, India need fireworks from Virender Sehwag. But the visitors are in for a shock in the very first over. Sehwag's lean patch continues and the opener is clean bowled by Mashrafee as early as in the third ball.

* Returning to international cricket after over a year due to injury, Mashrafee could hardly remain out of the game and gets into the act again when he catches India captain Sourav Ganguly who was nicely doing the recovery operation along with Sridharan Sriram. Getting the ball in his second spell, the Narail Express breaks another vital partnership between Mohammad Kaif and Mahendra Dhoni and with a diving catch in the deep, separates Zaheer Khan from Joginder Sharma who threatened the home team.

* Inspired by his early success, three more local boys Tapash Baisya, Khaled Mahmud and Mohammed Rafique not only bowl with purpose but also chip in with two wickets each to become a part of the historic win. Even wicketless Nazmul Hossain shows excellent control to pin down the rival batting.

* For a change, the fielding is superb. With Mashrafee setting the standard again, Bashar who had dropped important catches in the Test series, holds on to a low catch in front of him to dismiss Dhoni. Rajin, who is at the lowest ebb of his batting form, takes the catch of danger man Yuvraj Singh and saves a few runs diving to his left and right. His best act of the night, however, is in the 40th over when he runs out the last recognised Indian batsman Kaif one short of his fifty with a direct hit.

* Khaled Mashud stumps top scorer Sriram in his second attempt in a crucial dismissal while Aftab makes a memorable day more cheerful by palming a high catch in the deep to see the back of Ajit Agarkar. He also puts an end to India's chase by running out last man Murali Kartik with a direct throw in the 48th over.