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The race nobody won

AL MUSABBIR Sadi from Chittagong
TWo brand new cars - a pearlgreysedan and a pearl-white SUV (sports
utility vehicle) — were waiting inside theMAAzizStadiumfornew owners
to pick up the keys and drive them home. And a few Bangladeshi eyes were certainly fixed on the vehicles when the Bangladesh-Zimbabwe firstTestbeganin Chittagong.
The first Tiger to score a hundred in Test would take the sedan while the luxurious SUV was for the bowlerto take eightwickets first.
There was a fierce competition -by no means unhealthy and everyone worked for Team Bangladesh -but the race was eventually lost yesterday. Four knocks in the 90s, 80s, 60s and 50s and two in the 40s raised hopes but in the end, nobody had any regrets.
Many thought that Mohammed Ashraful was the pre-match favourite in this unique race. But the young man, who smashed a career-best 158 not out against India at the same venue last month, did not come even close. Ashraful missed out in a match that saw Bangladesh amass their highcst-cver Tbst total. The prodigy scored just 19.
Local boy Nafees Iqbal made the most of an early life to reach his secondTest half-century on the first day but he also frustrated the home crowd.
Then the best Bangladeshi batsman, who played like a man possessed, came within yards of opening the car door with some dazzling strokeplay. Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar, however, fell six runs short of die magical three-figure.
The baton was then handed over to Rajin Saleh who resumed the second day on 60. But the musical chairs were on as the number five Bangladeshi batsman added just 39 runs to his overnight total before driving a tame return catch to off-spinner Stuart Matsikenyeri. Even though he missed die opportunity to own a new car, Rajin must be happy with his return to form after lacklustre performances in the two previous series.
Three half centurions gone and therelaydidnotstop.
Bangladesh were still going as die ever-reliable tail batted with authority against a toothless attack. Despite having Test centuries under their belt, Khaled Mashud and Mohammad Rafique's names must have not come to the thoughts as contenders for the prize for the centurion. But the two added 69 runs for die seventh wicket before Mashud, who had been playing cautiously, edged leg-spinner FROM PAGE 13
Graeme Cremer to Mluleki Nkala at slip on 49.
Rafique became the fourth man to score a half-century in a rare Bangladeshi team effort that saw them race past the 400-mark for the third time in their Test history. The two previous 400 totals scored by Bangladesh were exacdy-100 against India In the Inaugural Test in November 2000 and 416 against the Wes t Indies in St Lucia las t year.
Rafique found an able ally in Mashrafce-Bin-Mortuza who set-ded for a blistering44-ball 48 featuring four fours and one six as the home side raided 134 runs in the second session. Just as Rafique looked like racing toward the car keys, lady-luck abandoned the lefthander.
Having smashed three sixes off leggie Matisikenyeri and another over wide long-off off pacer Douglas Hondo to cross the fifty-landmark forthesecond dme, Rafique reached 69 in 98 balls but paid the price for going for a big drive on the on-side, giving wicketkeeperTatendalhibu a simple catch.
The specialist batsmen, perhaps, will have to wait for the second Test to claim their stake for the prize but Rafique will have another go in Chittagong. Although Mashrafee will have the ball in his hand, it will be Rafique -- the ace left-arm spinner of the country - who is expected to persecute the Zimbabweans on a turning track. With two wickets to his account by close of play on second day, he can certainly eye that grand trophy.
In the end, nobody will mind if the Tigers unite to baga bigger prize dtan the cars - a maidenTest victory.