- 1st Test, day 2, Australian tour of Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan marked the first day of his 50th Test match by scoring a half-century; on the second day, he continued the party with a five-wicket haul. There is every reason to think that by the end of this match, he might be celebrating Bangladesh’s first ever Test win over Australia. But that is getting ahead of proceedings. For the time being, Bangladesh will be content with the strong position in which they find themselves at stumps on day two.
It was a day that began brilliantly for Bangladesh. Australia walked out on 18 for 3, and within three overs they had stumbled to 33 for 4 when Steven Smith danced down the pitch, tried to flick Mehidy Hasan through the leg side and was bowled. Smith is easily Australia’s best player of spin – three centuries in four Tests in India earlier this year attest to that. To lose him in these conditions was to hand Bangladesh complete control.
There was a fightback of sorts from Australia, first through a 69-run partnership between Peter Handscomb and Matt Renshaw, and then a 49-run stand involving Ashton Agar and Pat Cummins. But Bangladesh remained well on top. By the close of play their first-innings lead of 43 had ballooned back out to 88, with nine wickets in hand. Only Soumya Sarkar, who rashly holed out to a juggling Usman Khawaja at long-on off Ashton Agar, had fallen for 15. Tamim Iqbal was set on 30, with nightwatchman Taijul Islam yet to score.
But the key man on this day, as on the first day, was Shakib, who for the eighth time in his Test career combined a half-century with a five-wicket haul. Only Ian Botham has done so on more occasions (11), though from more than twice as many Tests. Shakib also joined Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath and Dale Steyn as the only bowlers with Test five-fors against all nine possible Test opponents: next stops, Ireland and Afghanistan.
Shakib finished with 5 for 68, and created a couple more chances besides. He had a fine partner in Mehidy, who collected 3 for 62, while Taijul was the only other wicket-taker: nine wickets fell to spin, and there was one run-out. Notably, while there was decent turn, there was also variable bounce – some kept low and others kicked sharply off the surface – and this too will play on Australia’s minds when they enter their second innings. – Cricinfo
