Dhaka – Bangladesh’s debutant off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz rocked England as he took 5/64 on day 1 of the 1st Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Thursday.Miraz’s exploits had England 258/7 at stumps in their first innings after winning the toss and choosing to bat first.Miraz shook the giants England’s strong batting line-up, toppling Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Gary Balance, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow to squeeze the visitors’ collection on the first day,UNB News Agency Reported.The 18-year-old Miraz bowled a back-breaking 33 overs – over one-third of the overs Bangladesh bowled all day (92), in framing his
memorable performance.His partner most of the time was the side’s senior spinner Shakib Al Hasan, who also bowled beautifully to capture the other two wickets that fell on the day – the captain, opening batsman and his country’ s record run-scorer Alastair Cook, and the dangerous all-rounder Ben Stokes – capturing 2/46 in 19 overs.Chris Woakes with 36 and Adil Rashid on 5 were the not out batsmen who will resume the English innings tomorrow.Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow shared the one significant partnership
for England on the first day, putting on 88 for the sixth wicket as both crafted half-centuries.Moeen Ali fired eight boundaries and one six off a 170-ball 68. He was caught by skipper cum wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Miraz’s bowling at 194/6 in 68 overs.Bairstow who faced 126 ballsfor his 52 Nand hit eight boundaries, was bowled out by Miraz at 237/7 in 82 overs.The Tigers’ spinners continued their authority over the giant England from the beginning of the innings as Miraz bowled out debut Ben Duckett (14off 35b), at 18/1 in 9.5 overs, to make the first breakthrough in their opponents batting castle as well as his maiden wicket in international platform.
Miraz dismissed Duckett in his 5th over, before Shakib bowled out the English skipper cum opener Alastair Cook on the same amount of collection at innings 10.2 overs. Then Miraz hunt Gary Balance at 21/3 in 12 overs.Moeen Ali came in the 4th wicket to stay with Joe Root for a 62 in 17.2 overs that charmed the life to revive England’s fortunes carrying the total to 83/4 in 29.2 overs.Again Miraz, departed Root who was caught by another debut Sabbir Rahman scoring stayed for a 40 off 49-ball, including five boundaries.Shakib bowled out another one, Ben Stokes (18 off 34b) when the scoreboard showing 106/5 in 40.4 overs for the English side.Jonny Bairstow came in the 6th wicket to pair with set batsmen Moeen Ali, who had survived five DRS reviews before he had reached his half-century, to contribute 88 in 27.2 overs.
Brief score
England 1st innings: 258/7 in 92 overs(at stumps); Moeen Ali 68,Jonny Baristow 52, Joe Root 40, Chris Woakes batting 36, Ben Stokes 18, Ben Duckett 14, Adil Rashid batting 5, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 5/64,Shakib Al Hasan 2/46.
