Australia wrest initiative away from Bangladesh

Bangladesh need to pick up another eight wickets and defend 156 runs following the conclusion of the third day’s play of their first Test match against Australia in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday. Batsmen David Warner and Steven Smith remained unbeaten on 75 and 25 respectively to keep the visiting side at bay in the game which so far has swung like a pendulum. However, opener Tamim Iqbal’s 78 in the second innings was the only highlight for the host on the day. Chasing 265, Australia were in early trouble owing to ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan and off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz’s efforts.Miraz removed opener Matt Renshaw for five while Shakib just six deliveries later dismissed No 3 Usman Khawaja for one to leave the Aussies reeling on 28 for two. Smith had given chances to Bangladesh but they were tough to say the least. The Australia captain was first involved in a close stumping call and then gifted a catch at short-leg, which practically was tough for the fielder to take.

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The next 20 remaining overs of the day saw Warner and Smith add 81 unbroken runs to the chase for the third wicket stand and complicate a possible maiden Test win against the Aussies for Bangladesh. The situation for Bangladesh would have been better if not for yet another poor show with the bat. Tamim and nightwatchman Taijul Islam resumed the second innings on day three with the momentum of leading the game by 88 runs with nine wickets in hand. Tamim, the Tigers’ Test vice captain, registered his second half-century of the game.The Chittagong lad was composed, just like the first innings, and had done almost everything according to the book to deserve a century to mark his 50th Test. Resuming on 30, Tamim lost two partners before captain Mushfiqur Rahim joined him in the middle. The Tigers lost Taijul (four) early but that should not have affected the plan of putting as many runs as possible on the board. Top-order batsman Imrul Kayes failed once again in the game, this time contributing only two. Mushfiq and his deputy Tamim took charge of the show and posted 68 for the fourth wicket.

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Tamim was then removed as his gloves kissed a snorting short ball from fast bowler Pat Cummins which flew through to wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, who grabbed an overhead chance. Mushfiq added 41 before getting run out in unfortunate fashion. Mushfiq was standing just outside the crease when on-strike batsman Sabbir Rahman hit a straight drive. The ball clipped spinner Nathan Lyon's fingers on way to hit the non-striker's stumps. This was followed by a lower-order collapse as the last five wickets fell for just 35 to allow Australia to come back in the game.Lyon bagged most credit for the Aussie fightback with his six for 82. Lyon found turn and sharp bounce from the pitch to trouble the Bangladesh batsmen and record his best second-innings performance in an Asian Test. The home side had only Sabbir and Miraz who reached double figures as the others, including Shakib and all-rounder Nasir Hossain, fell cheaply.BRIEF SCOREBangladesh 260 & 221 in 79.3 overs (Tamim 78, Mushfiq 41) lead Australia 217 & 109/2 in 30 overs (Warner 75, Smith 25) by 156 runs

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