Tigers tighten Aussies noose
Shakib, Tamim again lead Bangladesh batting
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh tightened the noose on the first day of the opening Test against Australia after a gripping contest in a see-saw day in which 13 wickets were fallen. The hosts finally had Australia reeling at 18 for three before they piled up 260 in their first innings yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Bangladeshs lead of 242 is appeared to be larger than anticipation in a rage turner. And Australias struggle against quality spin was well documented as to how they were trembling against Mehidi Hasan Miraj and Shakib Al Hasan in the late afternoon. Onus was on captain Steven Smith again to at least spread the confidence amongst his batsmen, a thing that he did in India earlier this year, congregating 499 runs in four matches with three centuries.
Smith saw off the tumultuous day, being unbeaten on 3 with opener Matt Renshaw on 6. With nine overs to survive before the close of the day, Australian batsmen were caught by extreme spin as Mehidi and Shakib bowled in tandem to create the chance of wicket almost every ball.
Opener David Warner survived a video review as the ball touched his bat before hitting the pad but failed to make the most use of it as he was dismissed in the next ball off Mehidi on 8.
Usman Khawaja was run out on 1 while nightwatchman Nathan Lyon got dismissed before opening the account, prompting Smith to see off the day. Mehidi and Shakib picked up one wicket apiece. Bangladesh was welcomed in the Test against Australia after 11 years with the same way to what Australia tasted in the late afternoon. This time it was fast bowler Pat Cummins who terrorized the Bangladesh batsmen with vicious pace.
Shakib Al Hasan scored 84 and Tamim Iqbal 71 in their 50th Test as Bangladesh recovered from paceman Pat Cummins onslaught to amass 260. Cummins (three for 63) ripped Bangladesh top order to reduce the hosts to 10 for three in just four overs. Shakib and Tamim combined for a 155-run for the fourth wicket stand before Glenn Maxwell broke through to dismiss the latter. Off spinner Nathan Lyon then equaled the wicket tally of Richie Benaud (248), removing Shakib with a delivery that had extra bounce and spun sharply. He then had removed Mehidi Hasan to get past Benaud and sit behind only Shane Warne (708) amongst all-time leading spinners of Australia. Shakibs 22nd half century included with 11 boundaries.
Despite his careful approach, Tamim offered a chance on 62 when fast bowler Josh Hazlewood couldnt quite hold on to what would have been a brilliant catch off his own bowling.
The Bangladesh opener smashed five boundaries and three sixes in his innings, lasting for 144 balls, before he was induced by the part-time offspinner Maxwell who extracted maximum turn from his delivery.
With the pitch getting slower, Ashton Agar and Lyon cleaned up Bangladesh tail after a spell of shower halted the game for half-an-hour. Agar, coming back into the side after four years and Lyon took three apiece, giving away 46 and 79 runs respectively.
