Bangladesh close in on lead to take control of Test
Joel Gould |
Bangladesh have turned the screws on Australia with superb Test-match batting to put themselves in position to secure a solid first-innings lead in Darwin.
Left-handers Mominul Haque (49) and Tanzid Hasan (74no) added 102 for the second wicket with poise and flair on the second day of the opening Test.
At lunch, the visitors were 2-181 and trailed Australia by just 17 runs with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (28no) in expansive form.
Opener Tanzid scored his maiden Test half-century in just his second Test. He was dropped on 62 when Steve Smith couldn’t get his left hand under a cut that deflected off the elbow of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The century partnership was brought up with the shot of the match when Tanzid danced down to Beau Webster and lofted his drive straight over the mid-off boundary.
After a first day that was regarded as the best single day of Test cricket played by Bangladesh, against a full-strength Australia, the challenge was always going to be to back it up.
Starting the second day at Marrara Stadium on 1-96, after bundling Australia out for 198, Mominul and Tanzid did their job in making the most of their strong position.
The conditions early provided bounce and carry for the vaunted pace attack and a healthy amount of seam as well, but Mominul brought up the 100 for Bangladesh with a flick through the leg side off skipper Pat Cummins for four.
The 34-year-old has been a wonderfully consistent player in Test cricket for Bangladesh, reaching double figures in 17 consecutive innings dating back to April of last year.
He was on the cusp of his eighth half-century in that period but nicked a waft off Hazlewood to fall one run short.
Tanzid’s driving through cover and point was exquisite and his shot selection was outstanding after a shaky start late on the opening day.
He skied a T20-style lofted drive before he had scored in Josh Hazlewood’s first over but Nathan Lyon made a mess of the attempted catch as he raced around from point towards cover.
The 25-year-old has cemented himself as a regular in white-ball cricket at the top of the order.
Against a world-class attack he appears set for an extended run in Tests too.
Australia bowled with more accuracy than they did late on the opening day but the visitors stood up to the challenge.
AAP