Shanto, Mushfiqur left rebuilding after Starc, Cummins strike

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim were left rebuilding after Australia pacer Mitchell Starc struck twice in successive deliveries and captain Pat Cummins claimed one wicket to leave the Tigers in a spot of bother on Day 2 of their second and final Test in Mackay today.

At lunch, Bangladesh reached 39 for three in 11 overs, still trailing by 107 runs after bundling out Australia for 210 in their first innings earlier in the session. Shanto remained unbeaten on 23 off 24 deliveries, while Mushfiqur was not out on four off six balls.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Starc continued his impressive form with the ball, removing Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam and experienced Mominul Haque in successive deliveries to leave the visitors in trouble early at the Great Barrier Reef Arena.

Starc, who claimed a six-for yesterday, dismissed Shadman in almost similar fashion today. Shadman, once again, closed the face of his bat too soon to a length delivery aimed at the stumps, giving a leading edge straight to Marnus Labuschagne at point.

The left-handed batter, who yesterday became Starc’s fourth first-ball dismissal in Tests --the most by any bowler in the format -- survived only three deliveries today, scoring just one run.

In the very next ball, Starc castled Mominul. The left-handed batter was in two minds over whether to leave or play a good-length delivery that held its line and went on to clip the top of off stump, leaving Starc on a hattrick. That, however, did not happen as Bangladesh captain Shanto left the next delivery, which drifted away from the left-hander.

Shanto then joined opener Tamim in trying to rebuild the innings, and the pair looked to have become a little more comfortable in the middle. However, their partnership did not last long, as Tamim opted to play a poor shot that brought about his dismissal.

Australia skipper Cummins had just brought himself on and looked to test Tamim with a short delivery. The Bangladesh batter played a half-hearted pull at the bouncer and ended up giving an easy catch to Starc at long leg.

Tamim walked back after a disappointing nine off 34 deliveries, following a 19-run third-wicket stand with Shanto.

Shanto then had to start the rebuilding work again, this time with Mushfiqur, Bangladesh’s most experienced Test batter. The duo managed to forge an unbeaten 15-run stand for the fourth wicket, but the Tigers will need to play smarter cricket if they are to reduce the deficit and set at least a decent target for the hosts.

Earlier in the day, Shoriful Islam had claimed seven for 48 -- the best figures by a Bangladeshi in an away Test and the best by a Bangladesh quick in the format -- after taking six wickets on the opening day.
 

Image

Photo: AFP

Shoriful shines with record figures, but Australia take solid 146-run lead

Pacer Shoriful Islam ended with the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi in an away Test, but Australia managed to take a sizeable 146-run first-innings lead on Day 2 of their second and final Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay today.

It took the Tigers almost an hour to bundle out the Aussies for 210 in 52.3 overs. They resumed on 165 for eight in 40 overs, with the hosts’ last recognised batter, Cameron Green, unbeaten on 51 alongside tailender Nathan Lyon, who was not out on 10.

Australia went unscathed through the first 43 deliveries of the day, playing with ease. But just when the hosts started to look comfortable, Shoriful dismissed Green with a scintillating inswinging yorker that struck the right-hander on the toe and knocked him off his feet.

The on-field umpire initially did not respond to the Tigers’ appeal, but a DRS review by Bangladesh showed there was no bat involved and that the ball would have gone on to hit the middle stump. Green walked back after scoring a team-high 67 off 105 balls, ending a 38-run ninth-wicket stand with Lyon.

Shoriful, who had taken six wickets on Day 1 to already record his career-best bowling figures in Tests, now also has the best figures by a Bangladesh quick in the format. The left-arm quick’s seven for 48 bettered Shahadat Hossain’s six for 27 against South Africa in Mirpur in 2008.

It is also now the best figures by any Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test, surpassing the seven for 138 recorded by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam earlier this year against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Australia added some crucial runs for the final wicket, with Lyon and Josh Hazlewood combining for a 24-run stand. The partnership ended when Hazlewood tried to slog-sweep Taijul, only to sky one straight into the hands of Shadman Islam inside the circle.

Hazlewood made six off 18 deliveries, while Lyon remained unbeaten on 32 off 62 deliveries.