Shakib five-for as Tigers enjoy near perfect day

Ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan registered a five-for in his 50th Test match for Bangladesh as the home side ended with a 88-run lead against Australia on day two in the first Test in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday. The Tigers ended the day with 45 runs on the board for the loss of oSoumya Sakrar’s (15) wicket in the second innings. This is only the second time the Tigers took a lead in a Test against the Aussies, courtesy Shakib’s 16th five-wicket haul. The world’s No 1 all-rounder in Tests, Shakib’s 16th five-for in the longest format meant he became only the fourth bowler - after Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath and South Africa’s Dale Steyn - to bag five scalps in an innings against the nine Test-playing countries.

Shakib Al Hasan becomes 4th bowler in history - after Murali, Steyn, Herath - to take a 5-wicket haul against 9 teams in Tests. #Bang

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 28, 2017

At this point, Bangladesh are clearly in the driving seat and if they set any target close to 350, it should be a good total to test the Aussie batsmen. The day was near perfect for Bangladesh. After being restricted to 260 in the first innings, the Tigers had come back strong with the ball to skittle Australia out for 217 on day two. But the fall of Soumya in the second last over of the day should be a reason to regret.

.@Sah75official has become only the fourth bowler in Test history to take 5 wickets against all the nine opponents. #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/zOV1773R4P— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) August 28, 2017

The left-handed batsman had walked into the middle with his opening partner Tamim Iqbal with the intention of surviving the remainder of the day. The 20-odd overs that the Bangladesh openers had faced were steady and errorless, until Soumya hit out against spinner Ashton Agar. Standing at long off, Usman Khawaja caught the ball after much juggling and parrying and the southpaw had to take the long walk back to the dressing room. The in-form Tamim stayed unbeaten on 30 alongside nightwatchman Taijul Islam, who was yet to open his account.

What a match @Sah75official is having! Aggressive half century to bail team out of trouble, then 5-wkt haul to ensure first innings lead

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 28, 2017

Earlier, Bangladesh resumed the day with a lot of momentum, having removed three Australia batsmen for only 18 runs on the first day. It was important for the host to make early inroads with opener Matthew Renshaw and captain Steven Smith in the middle. And they did not have to wait long. Into the second over of the day, off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz cleaned up Smith for eight to leave the tourist reeling on 33 for four.

Shakib Al Hasan takes his 16th Test 5-wicket haul as Australia are bowled out for 217. #BANvAUSScorecard: https://t.co/tKGJ5npbyy pic.twitter.com/EZSw4gBVsw— ICC (@ICC) August 28, 2017

Renshaw and middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb added a cameo partnership, posting 69 for the fifth wicket before spinner Taijul Islam pinned Handscomb in front for 33. This paved the way for yet another debacle for Australia as the side slid from 102 for five to 144 for eight and saw Shakib take his wicket tally to three. Tail enders Pat Cummins and Agar resisted the Bangla spinners to add 49 to the board for the ninth wicket. The partnership however, would have ended early if Cummins’ catch was not spilled by sweeper cover fielder Shafiul Islam. Shakib then initiated the final blows in Australia’s innings as he dismissed Cummins for 25 and later No 11 Josh Hazlewood for five to end on a glorious note.BRIEF SCOREBangladesh 260 & 45/1 in 22 overs (Tamim 30*, Soumya 15) lead Australia 217 in 74.5 overs (Shakib 5/68, Miraz 3/62) by 88 runs