Naimul Karim

From a brilliant century stand and a run-out controversy to Mashrafe Bin Mortaza introducing a seven-man slip cordon and Mustafizur Rahman's third five-wicket haul, the 3-0 series sweep of Zimbabwe was completed in emphatic fashion by the Tigers yesterday.

A confident 76 from Imrul Kayes, which sent a warning to Bangladesh's top order batsman who are yet to click in this series and some aggressive captaincy from Mashrafe Bin Mortaza led Bangladesh to their fifth consecutive home series victory. The hosts might have ended up winning by a comfortable 58 runs in Mirpur yesterday, however, the story could have been different had Imrul, who had made a late entry into the squad after Soumya Sarkar's injury, not played his boundary-filled knock.

When the Tigers take the field in Mirpur today, there's no doubt that their sole target will be securing the series. If they win today, it will be the third time that the Tigers won four consecutive series.

At the end of it all, the result of yesterday's first ODI merely reflected a performance that was expected of the hosts. In terms of the margin, the 145- run victory in Mirpur was Bangladesh's biggest ever against Zimbabwe.

A comparison of the pre-series scenarios of the current Zimbabwe tour and the one last November couldn't have revealed more contradictory results. The last time Elton Chigumbura and co arrived here, Bangladesh's national team was in tatters. They had lost 12 of their 13 ODIs prior to that series, the team management was heavily shuffled with a new coach on board and a new captain had been assigned.

Jack Andrzejczak is an Australian civil servant who is currently in Chittagong enjoying the National Cricket League. Considering the

There isn't much of a difference between a Dale Steyn press conference and his performance on the field. He shoots those answers straight, accurate

Consider this for a scenario. The world's top Test side, after dramatically going down in the ODI series and then being bowled out for a paltry 248 in the first Test, now have just one more opportunity to prove their dominance over a side that are miles away from them in terms of rankings.

Three wickets in an over, a player-of-the-match award on debut -- the first person to get the award on both Test and ODI debut -- and the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh pacer in the last two years; there were quite a few feats that Mustafizur Rahman achieved in his first Test.

A Test that began with plenty of hope ended up with two washed-out days and witnessed Bangladesh achieve their first-ever draw against South Africa yesterday. However, unlike their previous rain-affected draws, seven in total, this one felt like a lost opportunity.

Prior to the start of the Chittagong Test, both coach Chandika Hathurusingha and captain Mushfiqur Rahim emphasised on one aspect; that this Bangladesh's bowling line-up had the ability to take 20 wickets.

Incessant rain in the port city of Chittagong yesterday compelled match officials to call off day four of the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa at 1:30 PM yesterday.

Right before the players left the field for the last time yesterday Mushfiqur Rahim called up Jubair Hossain and had a quick word with him near the wicket. By

Beautifully timed on-drives, elegant hits down the ground and plenty of patience against the faster bowlers were the features that were most visible in Litton Das's maiden half-century.

Top-order batsman Mahmudullah Riyad has said that the manner in which Bangladesh's batsmen played against the 'best bowling attack' in the world yesterday would give the hosts plenty of confidence.

Prior to the start of the Test in Chittagong, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha had publicly stated that the main challenge for the hosts in this series would be South Africa's pacers and that the result of the battle between them and his batsmen could play a big role in deciding the outcome of the game.

The sight of a teenager clapping and laughing his guts out is soon becoming the country's most sought after scenario. Perhaps the best part about the spectacle is that when Mustafizur Rahman is on a roll, one doesn't get to witness the typical outrage of a fast bowler, but the innocent, childish joy of a youngster who has suddenly found the world at his feet.

In the backdrop of a series of amazing ODI victories, Bangladesh's performance in Chittagong yesterday might not have left everyone at the edge of their seats. But let's pause for a bit and try to grasp the intensity of the scenario.

Bangladesh will embark on their 50th Test match at home today when they take on South Africa at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong in the first match of the two-Test series.

He can deceive batsmen almost at will, can break the 140 km barrier every now and then, barely bowls outside his radar and has the hunger to transcend