Bangladesh vs Australia, Live Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 1: Nathan Lyon took over the new ball. (Source: AP)
Bangladesh vs Australia, Live Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 1: Bangladesh 102/4 in second session. Nathan Lyon has four wickets and has all four lbw. Mominul Haque latest to depart on 31. This came a few overs after the dismissal of Soumya Sarkar prior to lunch. He had become Lyon’s third wicket. Earlier the off spinner had dismissed Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes
1240 hrs IST: 100 up…Bangladesh have gone past 100-run mark in Chittagong in first innings…They have been struggling since morning especially against Lyon…The two most experienced batsmen are out in the middle though.
1231 hrs IST: GONE! FOUR WICKETS, FOUR LYON WICKETS, FOUR LBW! Tossed up and a quicker arm delivery, skidded off the surface and Mominul Haque, going on the backfoot, is caught in his crease. Absolutely spot on decision by the umpire even as the two batsmen confer whether to review or not
1220 hrs IST: Shakib Al Hasan is the new man in for Bangladesh. Lyon and Cummins get the ball rolling in the second session. Shakib opens his account with a boundary to Cummins and adds another two balls later with plenty of width on offer
1135 hrs IST: LUNCH! Australia have the upper hand after the first session and credit to Lyon for that. Getting the ball to pitch, quicken and skid through to have three wickets. A successful review of Kayes and it has been all Australia in the first two hours. The latest to exit the middle is Sarkar who failed to read the straightening delivery. The two batsmen confer long and hard before opting not to review – and possibly a wise decision. Replay suggests it was going on to hit the stumps but only just but good enough to be given as umpire’s call – which was out.
1110 hrs IST: Ashton Agar into the attack as Lunch approaches. He replaces Cummins who bowled eight overs and conceded 13 runs. Bangladesh steady in facing the spin bowling attack. Nathan Lyon operating at the other end from round the wicket
1058 hrs IST: Steve O’Keefe trying to recreate his magic from Pune earlier this year against India. He was surprisingly not picked in the initial squad and came back in after the injury to Josh Hazlewood. Not quite making the dent or causing problems yet
1043 hrs IST: FOUR! SIX! Soumya Sarkar taking the attack to Lyon. Uses his wrists effortlessly to send the ball soaring through the covers. Last ball of the over and the damage is extended. Dances down the track and unleashes a meaty hit.
TOSS: 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.
TEAM CHANGES: 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.
TEAMS: Australia XI: David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon
Bangladesh squad: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (c/wk), Mominal Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
One is in the bag for Bangladesh and dramatically so at that. Another is set to begin, on Monday, in Chittagong to go after a miraculous feat. And miraculous it will be if Bangladesh manage to beat Australia in the second Test of the series having already won the first in Mirpur. The win was the Bangla Tigers’ first ever over a much fancied Australian side. Bangladesh’s previous series wins have come against Zimbabwe and West Indies but beating Australia would take up their credentials up a significant notch. For the visitors, the best they can manage, at this stage, is to level the series even with their team selection under a cloud. The places of Usman Khawaja and Matthew Wade will be up for contention as the Aussies could play three spinners and a seamer for the first time in 40 years. Away from the teams and action on cricket, the weather could play spoilsport and ruin the Aussies’ chances with all five days not looking promising.