BAN v AUS, 1st Test, Day 2 Review: Bangladesh gain valuable lead on rank turner

Bangladesh kept their promise of giving Australia a tough time at home by bowling the visitors out for just 217 in the final session on Day 2. The hosts took a sizeable lead of 43 runs and then extended it to 88 before stumps were drawn on Day 2. In the process, Bangladesh lost a wicket just before the end of day’s play when Soumya Sarkar frittered a decent start, holing out to Ashton Agar for 15.

The left-arm spinner, Agar, lifted the visiting side from the shambles as Australia looked like conceding a big first innings lead as they were tottering at 144 for 8. He rallied and stuck around the tail to construct a crucial knock of 41* which took Australia past the 200-run mark. The left-hand batsman received support from paceman Pat Cummins, who hung around for 90 balls to make a fine 25. Their 49-run partnership for the 9th wicket was the second highest partnership in the innings for Smith’s troops.

Renshaw-Handscomb rally on

Australia began the day already reeling at 18 for 3. Just when Smith looked like rescuing Australia along with opener Renshaw, the skipper lost his wicket to a rather bizarre manner. Known to be nimble on his feet against the spinners, the 28-year old stepped out to smother the turn off a Mehidy Hasan delivery but failed to make contact and the ball hit the top of middle stumps to stun the Bangladeshis. Renshaw found support from Handscomb, who is known to be a good player of spin.

The duo added 69 runs for the fifth wicket and looked comfortable against the once in a while spitting deliveries. Handscomb was trapped in front by Taijul Islam for a sound 33 but the right-hander would have loved to carry on. Renshaw (45) followed suit 16 balls later, handing a simple catch to Sarkar at first slip, who took it at the second attempt of the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan. Mathew Wade (5) missed a straight delivery of Mehedi Hasan to leave Australia sweating as they were 7 down still trailing by 136 runs.

Tail wags, saves Australia from the blushes

Glenn Maxwell (23), fresh from his maiden hundred in India last winter, started positively before he was beaten in the flight by Shakib. He came out of the crease in quest of meeting the ball on the full but Shakib smartly shortened the length as the ball went past Maxwell before the bails were taken off by Mushfiqur Rahim. As many as 73 runs were added by the last two wickets which frustrated the home side a wee bit. Both Cummins and Agar batted solidly to keep the Bangladesh bowlers at bay. Shakib, eventually, took the final two wickets to pick his 9th five-wicket haul and became only the fourth bowler to pick five-wicket hauls against all nine Test-playing nations.

Australia didn’t look comfortable against the spin-heavy attack of Bangladesh. While Shakib returned with 5/68, Mehidy Hasan chipped in with a handy 3/62. Collectively, the spinner accounted for 9/162 which underlines the under preparations of the visiting team. Just 14 overs went to the faster men out of the total 74.5 overs required to bowl the Australians out.

Tamim holds the key for the hosts

Bangladesh were prepared to grind it out in the second essay as they were peppered with spin just 5 overs into the innings. Nathan Lyon bowled a probing line and was unlucky to pick a wicket after missing the edge of the bat several times in the final session. Three overs from Maxwell were less fruitful as the all-rounder went for 17 runs and was replaced with Agar by Smith. Because of Agar’s height, he extracted lot more bounce from the surface. Soumya Sarkar started very sedately and was lucky to get a reprieve early in the innings. In the 18th over of the innings, Sarkar played one off the back foot but the ball brushed his thigh pads and trickled into the stumps but the bails didn’t come off. The left-hander did not make the most of the chance and skied one off Agar just 11 balls prior to the close of play.

Tamim batted very solidly and was decisive in his feet movement. He remained unbeaten on a hard working 30 alongside the night watchman Taijul Islam, who hasn’t opened his account after facing 9 balls. The morning session tomorrow will decide which way the game is heading towards. Bangladesh have their noses slightly ahead of Australia but need to bat at least for 2 and a half sessions and to force a win.

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh – 260 all out & 45 for 1 (Tamim Iqbal 30*, Ashton Agar 1/9)

Australia – 217 all out (Matt Renshaw 45, Shakib Al Hasan 5/68, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3/62).