Mehedi, Shakib jointly torment England
Moeen, Baristow ride on their luck to strike 50s
Sports Reporter, Chittagong
Mehedi Hasan Miraj made a memorable debut to give Bangladesh an unlikely upperhand over England on the opening day of the first Test yesterday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
The 18-year-old claimed five for 64, employing turn, drift and guile to torment England in such dominating way which the visitors hardly had faced lately. A compelling day saw Englands middle order however drag them back into the game after dodgy start, as they were 258 for seven at stumps.
On a surface, offering both turn and variable bounce in abundance, it is not too far short of a very competitive total though. Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow rode on their luck and pluck to compile a pair of half-centuries and stabilised Englands innings as Bangladesh had reeling them to 21 for three at the very beginning.
While England heaved a sigh of relief after resisted them from hitting lower than anticipation, the day completely belonged to the teen-ager Mehedi who became the youngest Bangladeshi and overall fourth youngest bowler to claim a five-for on debut. The boy who just six months ago led Bangladesh finish third in the ICC Under-19 World Cup and was included into the side following a blockbuster domestic season wheeled his way through 33 over in a formidable days work.
He was the reason that the Bangladesh replicated their recent upsurge in limited-overs cricket to the longer version format, notwithstanding the fact that this was their first days Test cricket in more than 14 months.
Moeen Ali top scored for England with 68 after surviving five video reviews while Jonny Bairstow made a gritty 52 to help England propel past 200 runs, which appeared unlikely at one stage. At stumps Chris Woakes, who looked solid, was batting on 36 with Adil Rashid on 5.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan complemented Mehedis five wickets with two for 46 as he excelled his role as senior pro. Mehedi became the seventh Bangladesh bowler to claim five-for on debut.
England was visibly troubled against the spin once Alastair Cook won the toss on his record-breaking 134th test for the tourists and elected to bat first. Mehedi claimed his first Test wicket when he bowled England opener Ben Duckett for 14 then collected a second in his next over when he trapped Gary Ballance leg before wicket for one, getting the verdict on appeal.
England lost 3-3 in 13 balls with opener Cook also departing cheaply for just four. The England skipper tried to sweep a turning delivery and dragged the ball back on to his stumps.
With the side reeling on 21 for three, Ali and Joe Root started the repair job. Root was fluent while Ali was watchful and survived a handful of video reviews before reaching his half-century, including three in six balls either side of lunch. But Bangladesh managed to get the prized wicket of Root, who edged Mehedi to first slip on 40, with five fours in 49 balls.
Ben Stokes (18) went on the attack but an unplayable ball from Shakib dismantled his stumps to leave England in trouble at 106 for five. Ali helped to stabilise England, adding 88 runs with Bairstow for the sixth wicket before Mehedi finally ended his stubborn knock. Ali hit eight fours and one six in his 170-ball knock. Mehedi completed his five-for by claiming Bairstow with a quicker delivery that spun sharply to dislodge his stump.
SCOREBOARD
England first innings
A Cook b Shakib 4
B Duckett b Mehedi 14
J Root c Sabbir b Mehedi 40
G Ballance lbw b Mehedi 1
M Ali c Mushfiq b Mehedi 68
B Stokes b Shakib 18
J Bairstow b Mehedi 52
C Woakes not out 36
A Rashid not out 5
Extras (b14, lb4, w2) 20
Total (for seven; 92 overs) 258
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-21, 4-83, 5-106, 6-194, 7-237.
To bat: G Batty S Broad
BOWLING O M R W
Shafiul 9 1 33 0
Mehedi 33 6 64 5
Rabbi 8 0 41 0
Shakib 19 6 46 2
Taijul 17 8 28 0
Sabbir 3 0 11 0
Mahmudullah 2 0 17 0
Mominul 1 1 0 0
