BAN v AUS, 2nd Test, Day 1 Review: Rahim-Rahman stand counters Lyon's 5-for on opening day

After an instant setback in the 1st Test, Australia called up spinner Steve O’Keefe and thereby went with three spinners in the 2nd Test. Top-order batsman Usman Khawaja, who lost his shoe the other, found himself out of the playing XI today morning. Bangladesh won the toss and opener Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar made their way out in the middle before putting up just 13 runs on the board, as the first wicket fell in the tenth over of the morning session. Nathan Lyon made it two wickets without much delay, as Imrul Kayes missed the cherry while attempting a wild slog sweep.

A few edges here and there, but Sarkar along with Mominul Haque did a decent job with the innings building task before the former was trapped in front off Lyon. Australia earned an edge in the first session, as Sarkar walked back for 33 after spending 122 minutes, and playing out the two threatening spinners and the lone wolf Pat Cummins. Man of the match from the last game, Shakib Al Hasan started off with a couple of boundaries against the Australian pacer but soon Lyon scalped his fourth in the face of Mominul to make it four out four and that too all LBWs.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib tried to steady the ship, as the spinners started to look more threatening with each passing over and more bounce. With 85 runs from the next session, at the cost of two wickets, Shakib being the other, Bangladesh managed to find themselves back in the game as the skipper held on to one side of the wicket.

A solid stand for the hosts

Sabbir Rahman, who joined the skipper at the fall of the fifth wicket, expressed himself by displaying some delightful strokeplay. He reached his fifty by flicking O’Keefe through the square leg for a couple, and then congratulated his captain, as Rahim marked his half-century in the 80th over of the game.  The duo forged a 105-run stand, adding priceless runs to the host’s total and a bit more anxiety to the desperate visitors. Rahman didn’t shy away from going after the bowlers but Lyon managed to get the aggressive middle order batsman stumped for 66. Bangladesh didn’t lose another wicket, as Rahim batted for nearly four hours and remained unbeaten on 62.

Lyon makes it three in three

For Australia, Lyon picked up his third successive five-for in Tests – Dharamshala, Mirpur, and now Chittagong, while Ashton Agar scalped the big fish Shakib. A disciplined performance from the visitors made the day an ‘even steven contest’. The Australian bowlers didn’t concede a single extra, and therefore much credit to the hosts for earning every single run against a quality attack.

Bangladesh ended their day at 253/6, and they will look to add at least 60 odd more runs to make a case for themselves. On the other hand, the Australians will look to dent their oppositions power-play and wrap them up before they could reach psychological three figure mark.

Brief Scores

Bangladesh- 1st Innings 253/6 in 90 overs (Rahim 62*; Rahman 66; Lyon 5/77)