Bangladesh might be trailing Pakistan by 450 runs in the second and deciding Test but Tigers opener Imrul Kayes said their imminent target will be to avoid the follow-on mark.
In reply to Pakistan’s first innings tally of 557/8, Bangladesh ended the second day yesterday on 107/5 and require a further 251 runs to avoid the ignominy of the follow-on.
Centurion in the first Test in Khulna, Imrul was bowled by leg-spinner Yasir Shah for 31 but he is still hopeful that the Tigers would be able to cross the follow-on if one big partnership prospers on the third day today.
“Two of us (Imrul and Tamim Iqbal) took the team to a good position in the last match from a similar position. We have Soumya [Sarkar] to come and Shakib [al Hasan] is still at the crease. I think if we have set batsmen at the middle, it will help us. If Shakib and Soumya can put together a good partnership, we can reach a good position. Our first target will be to avoid the follow-on and take it from there,” Imrul told the media at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
The 28-year old admitted that the Pakistan bowlers bowled at a very good line and length but he said the scenario could have been a bit different had Tamim not departed off a marginal leg-before decision which could have gone either way.
Imrul also defended captain Mushfiqur Rahim’s decision to field first. Mushfiq’s decision surprised many but Imrul said there was something in the pitch for the bowlers on the opening day of the Test match.
“We have an experienced captain who understands the game well. We have coaches and a team management. There was something in the wicket on the first day. It was our bad luck that [Shahadat Hossain] Rajib got injured. We were playing with three pace bowlers. We had two catches taken that were both no-balls. If we could have properly used the conditions, then they would not have scored so many runs,” he added.