Australia took control of the second Test match against Bangladesh on Day 2 at Chittagong and will now look to drill home the advantage. Follow all the action of the third day from the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong from 2pm (AEST) here on The Roar.
When Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first, the Australian goose looked to be cooked. Batting last on crumbling Asian pitches has been Australia’s bane for some time now, as was evident in the first Test of this series.
But Bangladesh lost a couple of early wickets and were five down for just over 100, before a fightback came from the lower middle-order to see them 6-253 at stumps.
In hot, humid and sapping conditions, the hosts looked like they could run over the opposition with 400 in the first innings. Instead, Australia clawed back into the game, seeing Bangladesh all out for just 305 before lunch on Day 2.
Still, those were runs on board and Australia have had issues in such conditions – Nathan Lyon picking up a seven-for was an obvious pointer to the pitch being spin-friendly.
The early loss of Matt Renshaw pushed the tourists down, made worse by the fact it came in the short session before lunch and to a seam bowler. It was only after that the Aussies slowly turned things around.
Riding on the confidence that David Warner and Steven Smith had shown in the previous Test, the batting came together. Warner showed his doughty side. Smith was his usual fidgety but confident self. And the pair almost added another 100.
Taijul Islam managed to break the partnership, but one wicket did not bring a second. Instead, it brought Peter Handscomb to the crease and after a slow and scratchy start, he began to flower with his shot-making.
The longer the pair batted, the tougher it became for the bowling side. Warner got two lives in the process as well.
By stumps, Handscomb was on his haunches, literally, thanks to the saturating weather but he refused to be dislodged from the crease. Warner looked only slightly better as he approached his second century in as many innings.
The deficit was down to just 80 and with eight wickets standing, Australia will be feeling very, very good about their position.
The job’s only half done. Another collapse and a lead of less than 75 to 100 runs might not help too much – batting through most part of the day needs to be their immediate target.
As for Bangladesh, they need to show more imagination in the field. Captain Mushfiqur Rahim looked lost for ideas, bringing in part-timers when they needed the main bowlers to test the knackered Australian batsmen was bit of a surprise.
Follow the live scores and blog of the third day of the second Test between Bangladesh and Australia from 2pm (AEST) here on The Roar.
Rellum
Roar Guru
He can't bat.
nickbrisbane
Guest
Why isn't John Holland in this team? I believe in Darwin at one stage he took four wickets for 1 run????
Abdul Razzak
Guest
To day Good start Australia but I hope that bangladesh win
peter chrisp
Guest
Bangas have done quite well think the game is 50/50, and to get 7 wickets is excellent i look @ it in the grand scheme of things 6 dropped catches were we let off the hook?
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Good day of cricket. It was hard-fought, it was bit like a boxing match where both boxers were looking to suss each other out instead of going flat out and managed to throw in their shares of punches at each other. Australia had begun the day two wickets down, and have lost seven wickets for 127 runs. That Warner-Handscomb stand was obviously a saviour and in the end, might even be the difference between the two teams. Handscomb missed his century, Warner got to his but the rest of the batting, bar Maxwell to an extent, didn't hold up to the challenge. Mustafizur bowled well while Mehedi, after having struggled almost all day, came back reasonably well to pick up three. Back tomorrow with what could be an interesting day's play. Have a good evening.
doogs
Guest
Amazing we got any cricket. Should be a magic test
doogs
Guest
not the lead we wanted. shame really but at least its a lead. Even if they get 80 ahead. I wanted 100 but still close.Just depends how we bowl. The one against Cummins spun a mile. Interesting to see what Lyon can do if that is the case. Good reply from Bangladesh . They are a good team on their homesoil. Shaping up as another great test match
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
So that's stumps.Australia will go back nine down.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Scratch what I just said. Shakib isn't continuing. Nobody is, in fact. They are going off.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The light might have gone south. The umpires are having a chat about it but for now, they will continue. The floodlights have been switched on. Shakib continues.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A single off the fifth ball of the Mehedi Hasan over gets SOK off strike. Lyon defends out the final ball. 9/377 in 118.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Nathan Lyon is in at 11. SOK is on strike though and Mehedi Hasan will be bowling.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Bowled him! Shakib has Agar... ...that's turned from the rough and Agar was looking to drive it through the covers. Against the turn. Misses and it takes the leg-stump. Not the best shot to play but he's a number nine in the end. Lead's 71, nine down.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Dropped! Sitter! Shakib comes on to bowl, Agar looks to jog down the pitch and ends up poking at it. Flies straight to the first slip, Saumya Sarkar, who gets it at a very good height, and it's put down. Shoddy. They take a single too. 8/373 in the 117th
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single from the Taijul Islam over. 8/372 in 116. 15 overs remaining in the day's play today.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shakib al Hasan was coming into the attack but he has, for the second time, given his cap back to the ump and brought in Taijul Islam. Interesting.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Just a single from the Mehedi Hasan over. This stand's worth seven but they have used up 36 balls to get their eye in. 8/371 in 115.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Finally a single, and that's off a misfield. Driven by Agar and goes through extra-cover's hands. With SOK on strike, there're quite a few in the slips. Two slips. And a fourth slip. 15 balls without a run for SOK and then all of a sudden, he lashes out and earns himself a four through point. Lead's up to 65. Whatever is the position of the game, it's a healthy enough lead.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another maiden, this one by Mehedi Hasan to SOK. 26 balls without a run off the bat. 8/365 in 113.
peter chrisp
Guest
Would it make any difference in the end?