Bangladesh v Australia, 1st Test, Day 3 - 5 Talking Points

The first Test match between Bangladesh and Australia is interestingly poised at the end of Day 3 with the visitors requiring 156 runs to win the game. They have 8 wickets in hand to score those many runs and their two best players are at the crease. David Warner and Steve Smith are involved in an 81-run partnership with the former unbeaten on 75 and the latter on 25.

Bangladesh had a great chance of batting the visitors out of the contest today but the spirited Aussies came back strongly in the post lunch session. Lyon found his rhythm at the right time and scalped wickets at the crucial time and reduced the hosts to 186/8. But the tail managed to add 35 more which could prove to be absolutely vital in the context of the game. Day 4 will produce a result for sure in what has been an enthralling match so far.

Let’s have a look at the 5 talking points of the day:

1. Lyon’s 6 wickets in second innings

Nathon Lyon, who was largely ineffective in the first innings came back strongly in the second. He constantly had batsmen in trouble bowling in the corridor of uncertainty. The off-spinner started the day by pinning the night watchman Taijul in front of the stumps. Soon he got one to bounce on Imrul Kayes after pitching as the hosts were reduced to 67/3.

Post lunch, Lyon continued to threaten the batsmen and snaffled a false shot from Shakib. Then he was also instrumental to run Mushfiqur Rahim out of his own bowling. Soon the tail was cleaned up by his wily off-spin bowling as he picked up the 10the five-fors in his career. The 29-year-old finished with the figures of 6/82 giving his side a shot at the sub par target.

2. Tamim Iqbal’s fighting knock of 78

Tamim Iqbal has been magnificent in this Test and has done all he could for his side. The left-hander backed up the first innings knock of 71 with a gritty 78 to bail his team out of trouble. He added a crucial 68 runs with his captain for the fourth wicket and threatened the visitors until lunch.

Iqbal was very cautious in his approach and made sure Bangladesh didn’t surrender the advantage they had. Unfortunately, straight after lunch he received a snorter from Pat Cummins and was dismissed with the team’s score at 135.

3. Usman Khawaja’s brain fade

Khawaja’s horror run in the subcontinent continued as he couldn’t contribute anything with the bat in this Test match. After getting hopelessly run out in the first essay, the left-hander swept hard on a Shakib Al Hasan delivery only to be caught in deep in the second knock. He had a great chance to stabilise the innings with Warner as they had lost Matt Renshaw early. But he had no clue of the turning ball and succumbed to it. Khawaja might have played his last Test for a long time now.

4. Warner’s counter attack

David Warner’s struggles in Asia continued in the first innings but he looked a completely different batsman chasing a huge total considering the pitch. Warner received rank long hops in the first over and that set the tone for the swashbuckling batsman. His counter punch kept Bangladesh at bay until the close of play and probably might have edged Australia ahead in the chase. The left-hander was unbeaten on 75 with 11 fours and a solitary six and would love to win the game for his side.

5. Sarkar grassed Warner

Soumya Sarkar’s poor Test match with the bat continued in the field as he dropped a crucial chance of Warner at slip. In the eighth over of the innings, the left-hander went to cut the quicker one from Shakib and edged it to the lone slip. But Sarkar couldn’t catch it and took his eyes off the ball. The southpaw was on 14 at that point and now he is on 75 literally standing between Bangladesh and victory. Sarkar would be hoping for Warner’s wicket early on tomorrow else he will surely take the game away from hosts.