Seven-star Taijul’s magic marred by batting collapse
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi (2L) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Bangladesh's Najmul Hossain Shanto during the third day of the first Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Sunday (photo: AFP)
Syed Faiz Ahmed from Chattogram
Publish : 29 Nov 2021, 09:30 AMUpdate : 29 Dec 2021, 05:04 PM
Bangladesh top order collapsed once again in the late evening and failed to consolidate the advantage gained by bowlers led by Taijul Islam in the third day of their first Test match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong on Sunday.
Left-arm spinner Taijul wreaked havoc in the Pakistani ranks as he picked up 7-116 to bundle out the oppositions and gave Tigers a vital 44-run lead. Pacer Ebadot Hossain picked up two wickets while Pakistan’s Abid Ali scored highest 133.
The pitch was assisting some turn and sometimes getting tad low but it was the immaculate bowling from Taijul, who picked his ninth five-for in Tests, that eked out the dismissals.
Pakistan openers resumed the day on 145-0 after frustrating the hosts throughout the previous day but Taijul showed the glimpses on very first over on Sunday when he picked up two wickets in consecutive deliveries.
Debutant Abdullah Shafique was trapped in front in the fifth ball without adding any more to his overnight total of 52 and left his side on 146-1.
Taijul’s arm-ball hit straight to his pad and although the bat was adjacent to the pad the umpire gave it out before the batsman walked without going for a review.
New batsman, another right-hander Azahar Ali faced the identical delivery from Taijul but the umpire gave it not out. However, upon review of Bangladesh it was seen the ball pitched on the line and would have crushed the stumps. As a result, umpire reverted his decision and Azhar got out for golden duck.
Another opener Abid, who resumed the day on 93, remained calm and picked up his fourth Test century in the 68th over.
Abid lost his third partner in the morning in the 73rd over when captain Babar Azam was bowled by Mehedi Hasan Miraz after scoring 10 and leaving his side on 169-3 in 73rd over.
Bangladesh’s first inning’s centurion, wicket-keeper batsman Liton Das held a brilliant catch after a Taijul delivery brushed the gloves of left-hand batsman Fawad Alam. Bangladesh’s another successful review saw Fawad getting out for eight and Pakistan reduced to 182-4 in 78th over.
Abid got a reprieve two overs later when his snick off Taijul got past first slip Najmul Hossain Shanto. But Taijul continued picking up as he got rid of left-handed Fawad Alam soon for eight when wicketkeeper Liton Das held a brilliant diving catch.
After the lunch break Bangladesh bowlers hunting continued as pacer Ebadot Hossain joined the party by trapping Mohammad Ridwan for five and reduced half of Pakistan order on score of 207.
Taijul at last broke the resistance of Abid when he trapped the right-hander for 133 off 282 through an arm-ball when the score was 217 and fulfilled his five-for by removing Hasan Ali, who was stumped, for 12 two overs later.
Ebadot added another wicket to his tally when he bowled Sajid Khan for five soon and the visitors were reeling on 240-8 with the prospect of hosts taking a substantial lead.
But Faheem Ashraf got some vital runs (38) before getting out as the last batsman and reduce the margin of Bangladesh’s lead. Taijul got Nauman Ali (eight) leg before forcing Fahim an edge to Liton and wrapped up the innings with hopes.
But that was shattered soon as Bangladesh lost two wickets in the fifth over of their second innings when Shadman got out leg before for just one of Afridi before Shanto was dismissed by a regulation first slip catch of Shafique without opening his account.
Mominul also earned a two-ball duck when he was caught by Azhar Ali at short mid-wicket in the next over bowled by Hasan Ali.
Saif Hasan, who looked clueless against the bouncers, also perished for 18 as Afridi held a catch of his own bowling and reduce the hosts for 25-4.
However, experienced Mushfiqur Rahim (12) and debutant Yasir Ali (eight) saw off more than eight overs before umpires called off the day with Bangladeshi on 39-4 and a total lead of 83 runs.
Seven-star Taijul’s magic marred by batting collapse
Bangladesh top order collapsed once again in the late evening and failed to consolidate the advantage gained by bowlers led by Taijul Islam in the third day of their first Test match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong on Sunday.
Left-arm spinner Taijul wreaked havoc in the Pakistani ranks as he picked up 7-116 to bundle out the oppositions and gave Tigers a vital 44-run lead. Pacer Ebadot Hossain picked up two wickets while Pakistan’s Abid Ali scored highest 133.
The pitch was assisting some turn and sometimes getting tad low but it was the immaculate bowling from Taijul, who picked his ninth five-for in Tests, that eked out the dismissals.
Pakistan openers resumed the day on 145-0 after frustrating the hosts throughout the previous day but Taijul showed the glimpses on very first over on Sunday when he picked up two wickets in consecutive deliveries.
Debutant Abdullah Shafique was trapped in front in the fifth ball without adding any more to his overnight total of 52 and left his side on 146-1.
Taijul’s arm-ball hit straight to his pad and although the bat was adjacent to the pad the umpire gave it out before the batsman walked without going for a review.
New batsman, another right-hander Azahar Ali faced the identical delivery from Taijul but the umpire gave it not out. However, upon review of Bangladesh it was seen the ball pitched on the line and would have crushed the stumps. As a result, umpire reverted his decision and Azhar got out for golden duck.
Another opener Abid, who resumed the day on 93, remained calm and picked up his fourth Test century in the 68th over.
Abid lost his third partner in the morning in the 73rd over when captain Babar Azam was bowled by Mehedi Hasan Miraz after scoring 10 and leaving his side on 169-3 in 73rd over.
Bangladesh’s first inning’s centurion, wicket-keeper batsman Liton Das held a brilliant catch after a Taijul delivery brushed the gloves of left-hand batsman Fawad Alam. Bangladesh’s another successful review saw Fawad getting out for eight and Pakistan reduced to 182-4 in 78th over.
Abid got a reprieve two overs later when his snick off Taijul got past first slip Najmul Hossain Shanto. But Taijul continued picking up as he got rid of left-handed Fawad Alam soon for eight when wicketkeeper Liton Das held a brilliant diving catch.
After the lunch break Bangladesh bowlers hunting continued as pacer Ebadot Hossain joined the party by trapping Mohammad Ridwan for five and reduced half of Pakistan order on score of 207.
Taijul at last broke the resistance of Abid when he trapped the right-hander for 133 off 282 through an arm-ball when the score was 217 and fulfilled his five-for by removing Hasan Ali, who was stumped, for 12 two overs later.
Ebadot added another wicket to his tally when he bowled Sajid Khan for five soon and the visitors were reeling on 240-8 with the prospect of hosts taking a substantial lead.
But Faheem Ashraf got some vital runs (38) before getting out as the last batsman and reduce the margin of Bangladesh’s lead. Taijul got Nauman Ali (eight) leg before forcing Fahim an edge to Liton and wrapped up the innings with hopes.
But that was shattered soon as Bangladesh lost two wickets in the fifth over of their second innings when Shadman got out leg before for just one of Afridi before Shanto was dismissed by a regulation first slip catch of Shafique without opening his account.
Mominul also earned a two-ball duck when he was caught by Azhar Ali at short mid-wicket in the next over bowled by Hasan Ali.
Saif Hasan, who looked clueless against the bouncers, also perished for 18 as Afridi held a catch of his own bowling and reduce the hosts for 25-4.
However, experienced Mushfiqur Rahim (12) and debutant Yasir Ali (eight) saw off more than eight overs before umpires called off the day with Bangladeshi on 39-4 and a total lead of 83 runs.
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