Sports Reporter :
To stay the whole three sessions against Australia on day one, Bangladesh scored 253 for 6 at stumps in the 1st innings against Australia in the 2nd and last Test of the two-match series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Monday.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (62 off 149b; 5×4) and all-rounder Nasir Hossain (19 off 33b; 3×4) were in the crease when bails were drawn.
In the 30-over of the 1st day’s 3rd and last session, the Tigers added 98 runs at the cost of one wicket after scoring 155 for 5 in 60 overs in the day’s first two sessions.
Bangladesh’s first day’s collection in 90 overs, spurred by the 105-run in 35.2 overs in the 6th wicket partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman, apart from their individual fifty of 62* and 66 runs respectively.
The praiseworthy 6th pair departed at 222 for 6 in 81.2 overs as Sabbir was stumped by Matthew Wade off Nathan Lyon bowling.
Sabbir and Mushfiq started their composures from 117/5 in 46.4 overs after the departure of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (24 off 52b; 3×4), who was caught behind by Matthew Wade off Ashton Agar.
After Sabbir’s (66 off 113b; 6×4; 1×6) departure, Nasir Hossain came to pair with Mushfiq in the 7th stand and they continued the remaining segment of the 3rd session.
Sabbir, who made his Test debut on this ground against England in October 2016, completed his 4th Test fifty off 62 balls in 8th game, taking two runs off a loose full toss Steve O’Keefe. Mushfiq completed a very hardworking fifty taking a couple of run off Steve O’Keefe in 217/5 in 79.1 overs to hit his career 18th Test fifty in this 56th match. Mushfiq made Test debut at Lord’s against England in May 2005.
Bangladesh reached the 100-run mark with a single by Mushfiq in the last ball of 40th over while Shakib accompanied him with 15 runs. Aussies off-break spinner Nathan Lyon was continuing his 18th over after four wickets haul.
After the lunch, Bangladesh started the 2nd session with 70/ 3 in 29.4 overs and Shakib came to crease to join Mominul in the 4th stand but Mominul failed to hold his nerve as he was trapped lbw off Nathan Lyon at 85/4 in 34th over.
The first session of the day was ended with Soumya Sarkar’s departure in 29.4 overs as he was trapped lbw off Nathan Lyon. Mominul and Soumya shared a 49-run in 16 overs which was an effort to recover the early loss, starting from 21/2 in 13.4 overs. It was going tougher for Bangladesh in the 1st session, after winning the toss and electing to bat first as opener Tamim Iqbal was trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon in the tenth over, when Bangladesh collected 13 runs. Tamim was too late in bringing his bat down to a quicker, flatter ball from the off-spinner, and was trapped lbw.
It was an unusually circumspect stay at the crease for Tamim, although it might have owed to the hostility generated by the luckless Cummins on a hard surface, but fairly docile pitch. Tamim had already been dropped off Cummins by Glen Maxwell at 3rd slip, and was generally discomfited whenever he faced the young Aussie spearhead.
Soon after Tamim’s departure, Imrul Kayes also failed to stay long in the game. He too was trapped lbw by Lyon, in what became the last ball before drinks were taken, leaving Bangladesh struggling at 21/2, that brought Mominul to the crease.
Tamim (9 off 34b), Imrul (4 off 11b), Soumya (33 off 81b; 2×4; 1×6) and Mominul (31 off 67b; 2×4) all four were trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon while Ashton Agar departed Shakib to shrinking the Tigers top order batting line.
Lyon conceded 77 runs in 28 overs for his five-wicket haul while Agar took one for 46 runs in 17 overs.
Brief score:
Bangladesh 1st innings: 253/6 in 90 overs at stumps on day-1, Mushfiqur Rahim not out 62, Sabbir Rahman 66, Soumya Sarkar 33, Mominul Haque 31, Shakib Al Hasan 24, Nasir Hossain not out 19, Nathan Lyon 5/77, Ashton Agar 1/46.
