The opening day of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and England proved to be yet another exciting day of action as 13 wickets fell before rain brought an early end to proceedings.
At 171/1, Bangladesh were well set on their way to a significant first innings total before Moeen Ali and his team mates initiated regular breakthroughs to skittle them out for 220.
Later, the visitors lost three wickets for the addition of 50 runs, trailing the home side's tally by 170 runs, to leave the game hanging finely in the balance.
Moeen was the wrecker in chief for the tourists, picking up five wickets, and the all-rounder too believes the Test match is on a knife's edge after the first day's play.
Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena talks with Bangladesh's Mominul Haque after the day's play
DHAKA TRIBUNE“It's 50-50 at the minute. A couple of big partnerships and, if we can go close or go past their score, we're right in the game. It's been a good cricket game again, obviously the three wickets we've lost set us back a bit but I think overall we were really pleased to bowl them out for 220 after being 171 for one. It's been a good day again,” Moeen told the media on Friday.
The 29-year old was instrumental with the ball, bagging his second five-wicket haul to end up with impressive bowling figures of 5/57 from his 19.5 overs, including five maidens.
“I'm obviously happy to get the five wickets but I was more happy that I bowled a few maidens which I don't normally do often. I tried to bowl as tight as I could [Friday] in my third spell and I think that paid off really well,” he said.
At one stage, the Bangladesh batsmen in the form of Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque were batting fluently but after their 170-run stand for the second wicket, things suddenly changed for the home side as they went on to lose their nine wickets in the span of 49 runs.
England's Ben Stokes celebrates one of his two wickets
DHAKA TRIBUNEWhen asked whether the pitch changed drastically, Moeen informed that there was not much difference in the wicket, even after Tamim departed following his eighth ton, and third against England.
“I don't think the wicket changed that much. We didn't bowl that well in the first session. Then [Ben] Stokesy reversed it beautifully. He was the main guy, really. He bowled with great control and good pace and got a couple of wickets. Bowling with him - he was bowling tight, I was bowling tight as well at the time and that was it, really,” he said.
Meanwhile, when queried if this type of pitch is good for Test cricket, Moeen replied, “I think so. If it seams around then I don't have to bowl much and if it spins then I get a bit of bowling. I think it's good. People get tested with techniques and stuff. Test cricket is tough and it's difficult in this part of the world. If you play well you get rewarded.”
Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena talks with Bangladesh's Mominul Haque after the day's play DHAKA TRIBUNE“It's 50-50 at the minute. A couple of big partnerships and, if we can go close or go past their score, we're right in the game. It's been a good cricket game again, obviously the three wickets we've lost set us back a bit but I think overall we were really pleased to bowl them out for 220 after being 171 for one. It's been a good day again,” Moeen told the media on Friday.
The 29-year old was instrumental with the ball, bagging his second five-wicket haul to end up with impressive bowling figures of 5/57 from his 19.5 overs, including five maidens.
“I'm obviously happy to get the five wickets but I was more happy that I bowled a few maidens which I don't normally do often. I tried to bowl as tight as I could [Friday] in my third spell and I think that paid off really well,” he said.
At one stage, the Bangladesh batsmen in the form of Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque were batting fluently but after their 170-run stand for the second wicket, things suddenly changed for the home side as they went on to lose their nine wickets in the span of 49 runs.
England's Ben Stokes celebrates one of his two wickets DHAKA TRIBUNEWhen asked whether the pitch changed drastically, Moeen informed that there was not much difference in the wicket, even after Tamim departed following his eighth ton, and third against England.
“I don't think the wicket changed that much. We didn't bowl that well in the first session. Then [Ben] Stokesy reversed it beautifully. He was the main guy, really. He bowled with great control and good pace and got a couple of wickets. Bowling with him - he was bowling tight, I was bowling tight as well at the time and that was it, really,” he said.
Meanwhile, when queried if this type of pitch is good for Test cricket, Moeen replied, “I think so. If it seams around then I don't have to bowl much and if it spins then I get a bit of bowling. I think it's good. People get tested with techniques and stuff. Test cricket is tough and it's difficult in this part of the world. If you play well you get rewarded.”