On that note, I must run.
Steve Smith is about to start his media conference. Thanks for your wonderful company this week. We’ve had a classic. Can’t wait to do it all again in Chittagong on the 4th. Here’s an initial match report:
Updated
The captains at the presentation.
The Prime Minister is there. She was in for the final bit. Nice touch.
Right, Steve Smith first.
“It was a great Test March Credit to Bangladesh the way they plaeyd. The fist innings the parntership between Shakib and Tamim set up the game for them.”
“We let ourselves down a bit in the fist innings with the bat. It was quite difficult batting in the second inning here and I thought we did quite well getting 240 in the end.”
“I thought the tail did a terrific job for us, they helped the batters out alot in this Test Match. It’s upon the batters to go out, especially in the first innings, to go and get a big score. That was probably the difference in the end.”
“No excuse for us, we prepared really well and the practice wickets were fantastic.”
“It spun from day one, and today was there as more variable bounce than the first innings, but we let ouerselves down in teh first innings.”
The presentation.
About to start on the field. Stand by for what Steve Smith and Mushfiqur Rahim have to say. Plenty, I suspect.
The spinners.
All ten wickets between them in the second dig, expertly rotated by Mushfiqur when it mattered most. Shakib the mainstay, bowling all day from one end. Mehedi’s return brought a wicket inside two balls, the penultimate required, and Taijul got the winner within moments of his. Shakib’s 50th Test finishes the way it deserves for a champion of this game, five wickets in each innings to go with a vital 84 on day one, the highest score for Bangladesh in either innings. He’s the top-billed all-rounder on the planet for a reason, and he’s shown it at Mirpur.
England, Sri Lanka, Australia.
Bangladesh have knocked off each of them for the first time inside ten months. Back to back victories at their home of cricket Dhaka, quickly becoming a fortress. Cummins resistance would powerful and most worthy, taking Australia again to the brink, but a familiar collapse either side of the lunch interval meant the damage was done. Coming the day after West Indies mounted the least likely series comeback in modern memory, this is proof positive that Test cricket is alive and well. Make no mistake about it.
WICKET! BANGLADESH WIN BY 20 RUNS! Hazlewood lbw b Taijul 0. Australia all-out 244.
The bowling change has worked, Taijul goes around the wicket to Hazlewood and beats his stoic defence, trapping the left-hander plum in front. Bangladesh have beaten Australia for the first time. It is a glorious scene, the press box erupts, the stands go wild. What a moment. What a Test Match.
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70th over: Australia 244-9 (Cummins 33, Hazlewood 0)
21 to win as the over begins. Shakib into his 28th over. Cummins respectful of the man who has five and nine for the match. Watching despite all the men out and only one in close alongside the slip. Two balls to go but the field isn’t brought up. Sloppy captaincy? Does he wait until the sixth? He does. Defends again. Field in now? No. Five men remain out. Bold from Mushfiqur. But beautifully done by Shakib, ensuring Cummins has to pat it back. A maiden. Deep breath, Australia.
69th over: Australia 244-9 (Cummins 33, Hazlewood 0)
Standing tall, Cummins goes BIG to Mehedi’s first ball here, over the square leg boundary. Not for nothing given three men are already out there. A fourth now joins them. He goes for it regardless, albeit without making contact, gloving over the ‘keeper. And again: lashing the off-spin behind square leg with force for two, a nice diving stop by one of the various sweepers. It prompts a mid-over chat between captain Mushfiqur and his bowler. The batsmen conference as well. Cummins defends a slightly shorter ball. Intrigue. Up comes midwicket with two balls to go. HE GOES AGAIN! SIX OVER SQUARE LEG! This has gone further again! 22 to win! Last ball - single, hacking. Matters not: strike retained. BLOODY HELL! 15 from it. Ladies and gents, you are witnessing a classic.
68th over: Australia 229-9 (Cummins 18, Hazlewood 0)
Only one man catching for Cummins, the field spread to encourage him to turn the strike to Hazlewood. He does precisely that with a drive down the ground off Shakib’s penultimate delivery. He defends.
Is it just me or does Shakib's rapid-breath LBW appeals sound like urban foxes mating in London? Either way, masterful baller. #BANvAUS
— Sam Perry (@sjjperry) August 30, 2017
67th over: Australia 228-9 (Cummins 17 Hazlewood 0)
Hazlewood the last man. On his way home tomorrow, what will his final act before the injury lay off deliver? We’ve seen him bat very competently at no. 11, including a vital 40-odd in Dominica a couple of years back to help Adam Voges to the most unlikely of tons on debut. But mostly, he can stick around. He does that well enough here, well forward to the remainder of Mehedi’s over. A wicket maiden. Fantastic bowling change.
This really has been some capitulation. 6/58 since Drinks in the first session... #BANvAUS
— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) August 30, 2017
WICKET! Lyon c Soumya b Mehedi 12 (Australia 228-9)
Mehedi is back, at last, and second ball he’s broken this nagging partnership up! Lyon keeps on sweeping, but this doesn’t turn as he might expect, collecting a glove before going straight up, Soumya having enough time to race around behind the captain Mushfiqur to complete the dismissal. One wicket to go for Bangladesh.
66th over: Australia 228-8 (Cummins 17, Lyon 12)
Was it 42 to win as well when McDermott and May came together in Adelaide 1993? Around that. Sorry. SORRY. I’ll be quiet. Lyon kicks a leg bye. Cummins turn leans into a delightful cover drive, splitting the gap expertly. On the up and everything. Shot of the day. Taking Australia inside 40 now. Tick. They’ve put on 29.
Martin Gillam has a correction to the Tom Morris tweet I shared before: “Sorry to correct Tom Morris, but Shakib is NOT the first to make 80 plus ten wickets -- Alan Davidson scored 80 and took eleven wickets in the 1960 tied test at the Gabba.”
65th over: Australia 223-8 (Cummins 13, Lyon 12)
Taijul. I still think Mehedi to finish it. Who knows. Cummins does: back over his head, down to long on for a boundary. Didn’t get absolutely all of it, but plenty for it to reach the rope. That takes us inside the First/Centurary Test 45-run margin, which I predicted pre-play as the Bangladesh winning margin. Knocks it on the head to finish off. I learned today there is nothing more highly regarded in Bangladesh cricket than a batsmen who defends the ball after hitting a six. A bit like the preoccupation in Jamaica with twin tons (they will love Shai Hope right now).
64th over: Australia 218-8 (Cummins 9, Lyon 12)
Another missed Lyon sweep. He’s definitely just playing his natural game, as they say. I’ve said this a million times, but he hit 90 off 50 balls in a 2010 game when we played at the same club before the whole journey began for him. Anyway, I’ll shut up. Sweeps again, for one. Cummins fine when defending.
Waking up to splendid news from Bangladesh ..... Morning everyone 👍
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 30, 2017
63rd over: Australia 217-8 (Cummins 9, Lyon 11)
Another shout for lbw with Lyon sweeping! Again given not out. It was hitting, TV shows afterwards, but not in line. No reviews. Cummins does enough up the other end to get through another quality Taijul over.
Shakib is the only player in the history of Test cricket to make an 80 and take 10 wickets in a match. @FOXCricketLive
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) August 30, 2017
62nd over: Australia 216-8 (Cummins 9, Lyon 10)
Couple to Cummins off an inside edge down to fine leg to begin. They’ll take them however they can get them. Later on, a much better shot, cutting Shakib hard through the gap at point to the rope. Crowd momentarily silenced. Three around the bat. And a chance to one of them! Soumya drops Cummins! It bounced and turned and he went with one hand high. We’ve been saying up here all week that he’s standing too close for the spinners and that looks the case again here.
61st over: Australia 210-8 (Cummins 3, Lyon 10)
Taijul to Lyon. Hits Lyon second ball on the pad when he’s trying to score to the legside. Turned down. No reviews. Lyon sweeps hard and well for a second boundary. In the air but effective. He tries again, but misses. Back in defence to end the over. 55 now to win.
Bangladesh fan Shammi Huda wrote to me at lunch speaking of a “sinking feeling” about their prospects. Not so sure about that! But that’s been the case all week from the local journos too. They want to see it happen before they will believe. Could that pervade the thinking of the players out there as well? It needn’t.
60th over: Australia 206-8 (Cummins 3, Lyon 6)
Shakib stays around the wicket as well. Cummins gets a long way forward with those big legs of his. Carbon copies, one ball after the next. A silly point, short leg, leg slip and conventional slip the catching men. Some extra flight gets the same response. Last ball holds up with some bounce, hitting the pad, but high. Only half an appeal. Maiden. Lyon’s turn.
Updated
59th over: Australia 206-8 (Cummins 3, Lyon 6)
Every ball is met with a roar. Lyon flirts with danger, an underedge onto his pad when sweeping another that shoots. He makes contact with the next attempt, a sweeper out there to defend against the stroke. They’ve done their homework. Tweaks to the field for Cummins, a catching cover alongside three men in close. Taijul penetratating from around the wicket with his left-arm spin. Cummins uses soft hands to deflect one out past backward point to keep the strike next over.
58th over: Australia 204-8 (Cummins 2, Lyon 5)
Lyon the tenth Australian in, ahead of Hazlewood. He gets off the mark with the shot he plays best: the sweep. He’s struck it beautifully too, to the rope to bring up Australia’s 200 for what that is worth at this stage. A single in that direction too. Four men around the bat to Cummins, two either side. Huge shout for LBW! Turned down by Aleem. So much pressure on the officials now with no DRS referrals left. It is missing leg, good decision. 61 to win.
Bangladesh on the brink of their first Test victory over Australia. Would have happened a while ago had they played since 2006
— Tim (@timwig) August 30, 2017
WICKET! Maxwell b Shakib 14 (Australia 199-8)
Goodness me! First ball after the break! FIRST BALL! Maxwell goes back to a Shakib delivery, makes room on the legside to try and take him through the off, but it doesn’t turn and keeps a fraction low. He misses, the masterful all-rounder hits. He has five. Bangladesh are all but home at Dhaka.
The players are back on the field...
And the crowd meet them with a wild reception in the top deck to our right. Here we go.
LUNCH: Australia 199-7. Need 66 to win.
57th over: Australia 199-7 (Maxwell 14, Cummins 2)
The review precludes another over being taken by Bangladesh before the break, the clock striking midday as the last Taijul ball is bowled. It’s a ripper, beating Cummins outside the edge again. That is lunch.
What can you say about that? A frenetic session living up to every expectation. Australia lost five wickets, the bulk of which came in the second hour. Until then, they remained in cruise control with Warner and Smith, the former bringing up his 19th Test ton along the way - a mighty one.
But it was always going to be the case that one Australian wicket would expose a middle order known for collapsing in exactly these circumstances. When Smith fell shortly after Shahib nabbing both of the visiting leaders, it was very much game on.
Handscomb edged when cutting, Wade was Shakib’s ninth for the match when missing a straight one, Agar returned a catch to Taijul, his second for the session. Maxwell remained and didn’t do a thing wrong, but will need to keep doing plenty right with only Cummins, an injured Hazlewood and Lyon left.
Cummins, of course, was there for the winning runs on debut. He’ll need to pull of an innings of similar strenght to repeat the dose. Maxwell has the chance to steer a famous come from behind win. He’ll have to if it is to happen. See you in about half an hour for what promises to be a pulsating final stanza.
NOT OUT! Straightened nicely, but not hitting, not overturned. All the reviews are gone and they won’t be going for 80 overs at this rate, so that’s it for DRS in this Test.
Updated
HAS TAIJUL TRAPPED CUMMINS? Umpire Llong said no. They waited a long time to go upstairs. But here we are.
56th over: Australia 198-7 (Maxwell 13, Cummins 2)
Full faith in his number nine, and fair enough too, Maxwell takes one to cover from the second ball. Generous amount of sweepers in play when he is on strike. Cummins defends, even a full toss, showing his plan to lunch at least. Must be there at lunch to stall this wave of momentum. The ground is heaving. Shakib misses with his last one though, Cummins getting enough on it down the legside for a couple. Two overs to the break, it’ll be.
WICKET! Agar c & b Taijul 2 (Australia 195-7)
It’s not a good way to go for Ashton Agar, returning a catch to Taijul trying to force the pace down the ground and misjudging the trajectory, not getting enough of it to beat the bowler in his follow through. So much for that, then! Just when he looked like he was fitting right in out there. Maxwell now in a tough spot. When does he launch? Not before lunch, obviously. Eight minutes to that break. But there might come a time when MaxwellBall becomes the best way through.
55th over: Australia 195-7 (Maxwell 12, Cummins 0)
54th over: Australia 195-6 (Maxwell 12, Agar 2)
Shakib to Agar. Looks alright. Three singles taken to end the over, in a relatively risk-free fashion out to sweepers, to keep it ticking over. Calm enough, considering.
Oh dear, the Wade verdict is brutal on the world wide web. Not least on your emails to me. The game is frantic, so I won’t dwell. But from Scott Lowe: “I feel bad for Wade but he is clearly out of his depth in Asia and continues to fail. If you cant trust him, why include him?”
And Jonathan Israel: “Can you do your best to justify why Matthew Wade has managed to hold his place in this side? In his last 20 test innings, he’s averaged below 20, scored one 50, and his keeping has arguably not been up to scratch relative to the competition. What are your thoughts on Carey, Whiteman, Nevill taking his place?”
I just reckon he was brought back for the wrong reasons. Plenty of time to explore that after this is all over, one way or another.
Make that 8.2 after his dismissal #BanvsAus https://t.co/OkZW7eE9nx
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) August 30, 2017
53rd over: Australia 192-6 (Maxwell 11, Agar 0)
Taijul again. Mehedi gotta be back in at some point. Sure, he bowled poorly earlier. But that was Smith and Warner doing as they pleased. Different world now. Class rises, etc etc. Anyway, Maxwell sticking true to his pre-series words that he would be relentlessly defence first over here, as he was at Ranchi. No consideration of a scoring shot here. It’s the right decision. He could lead Australia to victory here and do himself no end of good. Throws it away, no one will forgive him. Not easy being The Big Show sometimes.
52nd over: Australia 192-6 (Maxwell 11, Agar 0)
Agar gets through the first couple, not before another shout to end the Shakib set. Look, to be perfectly honest, Agar was always a better bet in this situation than Wade. Showed in the first dig he has the tekkers for this continent. And Maxwell will keep it ticking over. No need for either to panic. Having said that, I’m sure one of them will do something stupid to make me look daft. But for now, not the worst pair to back in. There, I’ve said it. But a looooong way to go. Couldn’t leave Lyon and (injured) Hazlewood many with spin of this quality and a track with these demons. 20 minutes to lunch.
WICKET! Wade lbw b Shakib 4 (Australia 192-6)
It isn’t a good review, hitting in line and definitely hitting the middle stump. Wade just caught on the crease, missing on the inside edge for the second time in this match. Not much more to it than that. Have to feel for him after the torrid time he had yesterday sticking it out behind the stumps, but his batting again fails an important test. It leaves Australia in a very difficult position to win from here, the crowd (and press box!) going wild. 73 needed.
IS WADE LBW? UMPIRE DAR SAYS SHAKIB HAS GOT HIM. Wade goes upstairs! Drama!
51st over: Australia 192-5 (Maxwell 11, Wade 4)
Singles to each to begin, Wade timing well to midwicket, Maxwell pushing out to cover with ease. Wade also gets one with a glance. Okay, progress.
The balls are spitting out of the rough but apart from Hazelwood in 1st inns, no aus batsmen has been caught close in - superb technique
— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) August 30, 2017
50th over: Australia 189-5 (Maxwell 10, Wade 2)
32 minutes to lunch. Many of the local journos are watching this from their feet. You can’t begrudge them riding this home, many have seen the bulk of the 101 Tests they have played since earning full-member status in 2000, for only nine wins. On the field, Wade sweeps and nearly is bowled via a deflection from the edge! Hands on head from Shakib, who’s marathon continues. Wade gets off strike to the penultimate ball, meaning his examination will continue. Mehedi might be worth another shout here, he ran through England in very similar circumstances last October. But it will be Taijul for now, who creating chances too.
“I need to be in front of a television! This is marvellous stuff. I’d give Bangladesh the edge now but have been wrong before.” Phil Withall is right. A joy to be here to witness a truly great Test. Couple more twists coming, surely.
Updated
49th over: Australia 188-5 (Maxwell 10, Wade 1)
How’s the pressure on Matt Wade? One half-century in his ninth Test since coming back into the team. 30 byes in the game. Out as soon as he arrived in the first dig. Hanging by a thread in this team by any measure. Coming in with a lot of work to do, make no mistake, with Australia losing three wickets in quick succession. After him, the bowlers. Albeit a couple of very sensible ones with bat in hand in Agar and Cummins. There with Maxwell, who he had a publc stoush with last November. Hooley dooley. Off the mark first ball off his pads. Maxwell ferocious in defence to see it out from there.
Updated
WICKET! Handscomb c Soumya b Taijul 15 (Australia 187-5)
Handscomb cuts, edges, gone! In keeping with the theme of this Test, every time you think you can pick the trend, something happens. It’s high on the bat but flying to slip, Soumya - who has had a difficult old Test back there - juggles but eventually takes the chance. Five wickets to get, 77 required. What. A. Test. Match.
48th over: Australia 187-4 (Handscomb 15, Maxwell 10)
I want to give some context: Australia needed 87 to win six wickets in hand in Bangalore back in March, only to lose by 75 runs. Sure, there’s no Ashwin to bring on a 6-for-11 collapse today, but still. Handscomb was out there through most of that as well, the penultimate wicket to fall if I recall correctly (and I do, let’s be real). But forget about that, for this is a HUGE OVER for Australia against the flow of play. 93 to win becomes 78, moving through the 80s at a quicker pace than Elton John did. Handscomb: dancing, over cover. Then Maxwell: sweeping, expertly. Him again: a fat edge, but no real danger. A couple more tucked away to end it. Where did that come from?
47th over: Australia 172-4 (Handscomb 10, Maxwell 0)
Taijul to Handscomb. Beats his edge first up! That’s where he needs to be, forcing him to worry about his stumps. This misses everything, but only just. The Australian works into the over thereafter, making solid contact in defence. Grabs one around the corner to keep the strike.
46th over: Australia 171-4 (Handscomb 9, Maxwell 0)
Shakib has had a marvellous 50th Test, the world’s number one ranked all-rounder top scoring with 84, then picking up a 5-fer, and has three of four the wickets to fall in this second dig as well. While bowling unchanged from the far end throughout this morning session as well. Maxwell is the new man, the Victorian duo having plenty left to do. They are both in their baggy greens, looking the part. The first and only ball he has to see off this over seen off easily enough with three men surrounding his bat.
Fox Sports commentator just suggested if Smith gets out this match is in the lap of the gods.
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) August 30, 2017
Come on. Maxwell’s good, but he’s not a god.
WICKET! Smith c Mushfiqur b Shakib 37 (Australia 171-4)
There is it! Double breakthrough for Bangladesh, and it’s the skipper who is feathering Shakib into the gloves of the captain off the back foot. A relatively inoccuous delivery that he’s tried to steer, perhaps a bit close to his body. All over. With 94 to get, we have a ball game again!
45th over: Australia 170-3 (Smith 37, Handscomb 8)
Edge from Smith to begin the Taijul over, but nowhere near a catcher, well wide of the catchers. Profits by four. That’ll frustrate Bangladesh. Smith keeps plugging away in the last over before drinks, marking his guard viciously after every ball. Taijul generating plenty of spin, but more often than not from balls alread pitching outside the off-stump. So when Smith is beaten he’s able to withdraw the blade and play inside the line. There’s an appeal for lbw too from the one that doesn’t spin, but they are wise not to go upstairs as it is all inside edge, no pad. Initially at least. Right, that’s drinks. Breathe.
44th over: Australia 166-3 (Smith 33, Handscomb 8)
Shakib again, so it stays with two left-arm finger spin operators. No seam seem today. Still reckon Mustafiz worth a blast. Anyway, Handscomb is coming down the track then going back to where he is more comfortable early in an innings. One spins huge, but he doesn’t follow it with his gloves. Good batting. Even batting: the sweep he nails to finish the over, racing away to beat the sweeper, who is slow on it. Australia need 99 to win. A nice mental hurdle to clear in any chase.
43rd over: Australia 162-3 (Smith 33, Handscomb 4)
Taijul returns after a brief Mehedi stint. And immediately hitting the Victorian’s pad and up! But not going enough from around the wicket. Play on. He’s clipping the best way he knows how, from the deep in the crease, for a couple. Then again for one, later in the set. He showed at the Rancho Relaxo in March that he has the skillz for this very environment deep into a Test.
Updated
42nd over: Australia 159-3 (Smith 33, Handscomb 1)
The new man Handscomb off the mark first ball behind square, the only he needs to negotiate from the Shakib over, so he’ll retain the strike.
“Do you think Warner has changed his technique, or simply changed his mental approach?,” says Frank Kelloway, who adds nice things about the OBO. Thank you, Frank. “As a Geelong Cats supporter, I think I remember you as a the man who used to carry the life-sized cardboard cut-out of Jason Dunstall.” Blimey. The things you get known for in this world. That is, indeed, me. No regrets.
One of @davidwarner31 better 💯 built around putting pressure back on the bowler by looking to score, defending late & embracing conditions 👏
— Trent Woodhill (@TrentWoodhill) August 30, 2017
WICKET! Warner lbw b Shakib 112 (Australia 158-3)
He is! Attempting to pull across the line from a ball that’s keeping a fraction low. Immediately given by Aleem Dar, and quickly confirmed as three red lights by third ump Gould, no edge on the way through to save him either. The end of a quite magnificent hand from Warner, taking Australia to 107 of victory. But still, it is an opening for the hosts. The precious incision they have waited 51 mintutes for today. Can they capitalise?
IS WARNER LBW TO SHAKIB? We’ll find out. Bangladesh upstairs.
41st over: Australia 152-2 (Warner 106, Smith 33)
Good news I can report from the CA camp: back home Mitchell Starc has started bowling again. A good morning to England readers. But let’s ignore Ashes while this is in front of us. Mehedi is back. Doesn’t change Warner’s approach, an easy single to the deep. Smith dropped! Out to mid-on, not snaffled, down to the rope. Both feet off the ground when it went down, but even so. Half/quarter chances need to be taken by the hosts from here.
Some SOK chat on the email. “None of these blokes would be there if they were sanctioned for getting pissed and mouthing off,” writes Graham Crouch. “Do we want to win Test matches or be courteous and responsible citizens? Not to condone SOK’s behaviour of course.” I’ll take that as a comment. Complex, isn’t it?
Murray Henman, too: “Without knowing the details of what happened at the dinner, it’s hard to make a judgement call. I’m all for forgiveness as long as the offender shows genuine contrition, but he has history in being a wanker.” There are reports of what he did, which I won’t rehash. I believe his contrition, though, for what little that is worth.
40th over: Australia 147-2 (Warner 104, Smith 29)
Bit of a conference between overs with the umpires. Perhaps ball related? Anyway, they get on with it, Shakib to go again. Warner doing it easy now, in complete ODI mode, a single to long-on first ball of the set. Smith down the business end, cops a beauty from the left-armer who has changed approach to go around the wicket to the skipper now in order to open up the angle. But as we saw in Pune when he was beaten outside the line by Jadeja time and again with huge turners, it doesn’t much bother him. Back to solid defence to see it out.
Mark Allsop on the email enjoying the work of the Australian leadership axis. “It is refreshing to see an Australian Captain and Vice-Captain honour their roles by batting in the requisite manner. The final session yesterday was as entertaining cricket as there has been for a while with the leaders leading from the front.” Too right. A fair bit of scrutiny about the importance of these two compared to the rest, but they are revered for a reason.
David Warner reaches his 19th Test century!
39th over: Australia 146-2 (Warner 104, Smith 29)
Second in Asia, second in 2017. And what a mighty hand it has been. Two out to extra cover to the first ball of the new over gets him the required runs, a huge jump in the air follows in that familiar form. An equally effusive hug with his skipper. These two have put on over 100 now, and have Australia in the box seat for an excellent come-from-behind win. “I think this will go down as one of his finest,” says BJ on the telly. I tend to agree. Adam Gilchrist said the 144 he made in Fattulah with Australia in the hole there was one of the best of his famous career, and there are comparisons to be made without a doubt. 19 centuries in 65 Tests is a wonderful clip as well, on track to reach 20 quicker than all but a handful. Three further runs from the Taijul over. Time to shake it up, Mushfiqur. 119 left to get.
38th over: Australia 141-2 (Warner 99, Smith 29)
After the DRS stress, Warner takes his 99th run down the long-on. A long-on when he’s on 99? Come on Mushfiqur! He had four sweepers in the penultimate over last night. Amusing moment on the review before where Gould accientally told Dar to change his decision, detailed below by Pete Lalor watching at home. Smith sees out the remainder of the over. Warner a run to get for a ton at the start of the next.
Gunner tells Aleem Dar to change decision to not out, but that was original decision. Light moment, but A's got a few wrong this match.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) August 30, 2017
NOT OUT! No glove, no spike, no breakthrough for Bangladesh. Aleem Dar vindicated by third umpire Gunner Gould. Relief for Warner.
HAS WARNER GOT AN EDGE DOWN THE LEGSIDE? Given not out, sent upstairs! Out for 98? We will see!
37th over: Australia 139-2 (Warner 98, Smith 28)
Warner is rapidly taking the game away from Bangladesh, three glorious boundaries from the opener, taking him into the 90s and then some, all of a sudden two short of a century! He slayed a sweep with perfect placement, came down to lash Taijul through cover, then repeats that stroke to end a significant over in the context of this fourth and final day. 125 required from here.
36th over: Australia 127-2 (Warner 86, Smith 28)
A maiden from Shakib, who isn’t messing around out there. Making Smith play, eitiher with bat or pad, sticking over the wicket. Wonder whether they’ll give Mustafizur a quick blast here from that end just to shake it up a bit? Golden rule of captaincy when you need a wicket pronto: keep throwing the ball around.
35th over: Australia 127-2 (Warner 86, Smith 28)
Taijul on. Didn’t expect that. Thought Mehedi would be set-and-forget from the commentary end all day. But he hasn’t started well, Warner on him. Gosh! The first delivery from the left-arm ortho has nearly taken his head off! Four byes, no chance. Could have hit anything. Massive bounce for a spinner. It warrants David Warner putting away his baggy green and calling for a helmet. A single to point follows, and one from Smith around off his hip as well. A shout for LBW ends the set, but it’s pretty ambitious. Pad well outside the line. Nah. No review.
“SOK being called up is a joke,” growls @Beeso on the twitter. “I don’t understand how Oz selectors get away with this crap.” Well, there’s clearly a decision making framework that has been adjusted. They didn’t think they needed O’Keefe, on the available evidence on the track here, now they are convinced they do. Have the workaround of the sanction being issued by Cricket NSW, not CA. On pure cricketing terms, there’s no doubting he’s worthy of being here. It’s whether what happened on the tonk at the awards dinner warrants him being discarded. Any other strong views out there?
34th over: Australia 121-2 (Warner 85, Smith 27)
How about Sokka getting the call up to replace Josh Hazlewood? Suspended by NSW, but not by Australia, evidently. Australia to go in with three spinners at Chittagong for the first time since 2006 in the corresponding fixture? Has to be a big chance. After being told his career was over, so it has been reported. Not quite a comeback of Tony Lockett proportions (and hopefully a more successful one), but not for nothing either. Right, back to the here and now, Shakib to Warner for the first time today. And they’re taking singles with relative ease. Nothing explosive about it, but bad early signs for Bangladesh. Down the ground, out to midwicket, through square leg. Smith tries to keep the strike tucking around the corner, but can’t beat the man on the 45. 12 runs in four overs. Steady.
This is already Warner's highest Test score in the subcontinent (previous 71 v India in Mohali 2013) #BANvAUS
— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) August 30, 2017
33rd over: Australia 118-2 (Warner 83, Smith 26)
Warner again on top of Mehedi, the only player in this match to really go after the teenage senation. The length isn’t quite on to begin, two cut out to deep point. Better still the quick-ish single taken to mid-off. That’s white-ball running from the pair, once again transferring keeping the pressure on. Around the wicket to Smith to end the over, as he is to both men now.
Shakib trying to dismiss Smith in a similar manner to Jadeja in the 3rd Test Bowling around the wicket into the footmarks #AUSvsBAN
— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) August 30, 2017
32nd over: Australia 115-2 (Warner 80, Smith 26)
Shakib to begin from the other end. We’ve been here six days and never worked out what it was called. Way to go. He’s on the mark from the start, making Smith play. And the Australian captain is very lucky there, the last ball just about rolling on the ground! Fortunate for the fact that it pitched comfortably outside the leg stump when hitting his pad. Ominous if the spinners can get into Australia’s back half. But that remains an if with these two.
31st over: Australia 115-2 (Warner 80, Smith 26)
Exactly the start Australia wanted and needed. Warner and Smith immediately away with singles, before the opener leans back and wallops a long-hop from Mehedi. One way to put the pressure back onto the home side straight away. He’s into the 80s. Australia an even 150 to go from here.
Let’s converse. In the best OBO traditions. You know the drill by now: email for the best, twitter for the questionable.
Astonishing finish at Headingley last night too. Test Match cricket: wouldn’t want it any other way. Read Andy Bull on that. Graeme Swann was in the BBC commentary box when the winning runs were hit - great stuff. I mention him as Nathan Lyon went past the England great’s 255 Test wickets yesterday with his sixth, making nine for the match. Handy week, after going beyond Benaud on the opening day, joining the 250 Club as well.
I had a bit of a stats binge on Nath last night in a piece that starts with the time he met the great Electrified Tarantula early in his career. Lyon is the reason Australia are in this match, make no mistake.
Welcome to the fourth (and final) day at Dhaka!
The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium is the place to be this morning. School is out for Eid festival this Saturday and tickets are a premium, all of a sudden. Because their national side has the chance today to win their tenth Test in 17 years, the first ever against Australia.
But that will require eight Australian wickets, with 156 runs to play with. Breaking that down further, it means they must strike early and get rid of either Warner or Smith. The former, on 75 overnight, was having a wordly out there yesterday. Aside from a sharp chance he gave to slip, it was a man we’ve seldom seen in Test cricket in this part of the world.
As for Smith, who resumes on 25, he’s Smith. Nearly stumped first ball, and also giving a brisk chance - his to short leg - he was a model of calm through to the close. The perfect foil to Warner, who played his shots and saw local skipper Mushfiqur placing four men on the rope through the last half hour.
But we all know can happen when the softer underbelly is exposed in this side on turning tracks, with two world-class spinners in Shakib and Mehedi probing away. One wicket, and they’re into this. And they know it.
As for the weather, another lovely - albeit bloody hot - morning in Dhaka. I’ve sweated through my shirt on the way up to the box again. Classy. But I don’t care, because we have coming the grandstand finish that has felt destined all week. All the preconditions are there. You wouldn’t want to miss a moment, and that we won’t on the mighty OBO. Ride it out with me here through to the very end.
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how day three – a good one for Australia – panned out:
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