Mashrafe Mortaza Given a Chance, but of No Use for Kolkata Knight Riders

Bangladesh’s vice-captain Mashrafe Mortaza was at last picked up for Kolkata Knight Riders’ first eleven against Deccan Chargers in IPL 2009 yesterday. Many cricket fans in Bangladesh were waiting to see their home boy in action in the money-spinning IPL 2009 twenty20 tournament. However, Mashrafe failed to live up to the expectation as the pacer conceded 58 runs in his 4 overs, without taking any wicket. The pacer’s start was not good at all as he conceded 15 runs in his first over thanks to two over-boundaries from Adam Gilchrist. He was also treated in the same manner by Gilchrist in his second over as he conceded two boundaries and gave 11 runs. Then he was taken off from the attack by KKR captain.

When Mashrafe Mortaza was brought back into the attack, it was the 18^th over in which he conceded only 7 runs, and thus, making a good come back. His success in his 3^rd over perhaps prompted Captain McCullum to hand the ball to Mashrafe Mortaza in the last over of the innings. Deccan needed 21 runs from 6 balls. So, there was not any big pressure on Mashrafe as he had enough runs to defend only for 6 balls. However, Mashrafe Mortaza failed to capitalize on the runs he had in hands conceding 26 runs in his 6 balls. I just got shocked to see Mashrafe Mortaza delivering a number of full tosses later in the innings when tight bowling was asked of him. Here, I would like to address another thing. In the beginning of Deccan Chargers innings, Mashrafe Mortaza was bowling over the wicket to left hander Gilchrist who hit two SIXs in two consecutive balls in his first over.

I really did not understand why Mashrafe Mortaza was bowling over the wicket against a hard-hitting left hander. It is always advantageous for the left handed hard-hitters like Adam Gilchrist, who is very well in his leg side, to face a right handed pacer bowling over the wicket. To be honest, the kind of performance Mashrafe Mortaza showed was not enough to claim another chance, but I think, Kolkata should give him another chance so that he can prove what he has in him, given Kolkata is already out of semi final contention of IPL 2009 tournament.