The perfect record of England over Bangladesh is at a real risk of tumbling after the first day’s play in Chittagong with youngster Mehedi Hasan picking up five wickets. Join The Roar for live scores of Day 2 from 3pm (AEDT)
An astounding 92 overs were bowled on Day 1 by the hosts as their spinners ran rampant against the English top order, and at one point looked to be in with a chance of bowling them out for an embarrassingly low total.
Their young spinner Hasan, making his Test debut, was thrown the daunting task of opening the bowling on a pitch that had plenty to offer for the slow bowlers and he didn’t disappoint given the opportunity.
Out of a possible 46, he bowled 33 overs going at an economy of just 1.93 and ending the day with figures of 5 for 64 after single-handedly destroying the tourists’ top order to leave them dangling at 3 for 23.
Interestingly enough, and it says plenty about the pitch that the only other bowler who looked like he would make an impact was off-spinning all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who picked up the other two wickets.
The two spinners were the only bowlers to go at under three runs per over, and while they bowled well and made the pitch work for them it has to be a worry for England looking at their spinning stocks.
The inning itself was saved by the solid hand of Joe Root who made 40 and the half-centuries of Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow, with Chris Woakes sitting 36 not out at stumps.
It has left England at 7 for 258, something near what could be expected to be a par score, but the pressure on their spin bowlers Gareth Batty, Adil Rashid and all-rounder Moeen Ali is going to be immense.
Day 2 Prediction
Bangladesh don’t have the depth in their batting order that England have used to save them, so a slow start with the bat will be disastrous.
There is plenty of time left in the match so that’s not an issue and the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah must get on top of England by batting for long stretches of time.
Their first quest will be to get rid of the English tail, though, something they should do with relative ease if Mehedi Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan start the morning with ball in hand.
From an English point of view, their spinners must do the job. Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes will have little impact on this wicket, and not bringing spin on early will leave them looking at a long day in the field.
It’s difficult to see Bangladesh matching England with the bat, but they have made this match very interesting thanks to their Day 1 bowling.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of the second day’s play in Chittagong from 3pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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