Chittagong – Bangladesh made a comeback in the first innings of the second Test against Australia in Chittagong after skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman notched up a partnership of 105 runs. After being reduced ti 117/5, the home side needed a partnership. Captain Rahim and Sabbir steadied the innings for them and both the batsmen scored individual half-centuries. Rahman was later stumped for 66 but Rahim went back in the pavilion unbeaten. For Australia, it was Nathan Lyon who emerged to be the pick of the bowlers. The off-spinner returned with figures of 5/77.Bangladesh’s young batsman Sabbir Rahman and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim each fired a fifty against Australia in the 1st innings in their 2nd and last Test of the two-match series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Chittagong on Monday.
Both the batters were sharing a 105-run partnership in 35.2 overs in the 6th stand before Sabbir was stumped by Matthew Wade off Nathan Lyon bowling at 222/6 in 81.2 overs.
After Sabbir’s (66 off 113b; 6×4; 1×6) departure, Nasir Hossain came to pair with Mushfiq (50 off 130b; 4×4) in the 7th stand.
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.
Sabbir who made his Test debut on the same 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.
Mushfique, making Test debut at Lord’s against England in May 2005, completed a very hardworking fifty which is 18th fifty of his career in this 56th match, taking a couple off Steve O’Keefe at Bangladesh’s 217/5 in 79.1 overs.
Earlier, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar and Mominul Haque– all four were trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon while Ashton Agar departed Shakib to shrinking the Tigers top order batting line.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first in Chittagong. Steve Smith says he would have batted first too had Australia won the toss. Reckons the pitch is too dry. “I certainly would’ve batted first as well. The pitch looks really dry. Lengths with our bowling have to change. We were a bit short in the first innings and that partnership between Shakib and Tamim cost us dearly the last time around,” he says. Meanwhile, toss-winning captain, Mushfiqur Rahim assessed the pitch the same way and says the first Test win is in the past now. “The wicket looks dry so we will bat first. We know the win is in the past. It is a fresh game and the boys are eager to do well; we have to start fresh,” he says.
One change for Bangladesh – Mominul Haque replaces Shafiul Islam. For Australia, Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood are the two changes. Their place has been taken by Hilton Cartwright and Steve O’Keefe.
