Australia and Bangladesh draw the Test series 1-1
Australia rescued their tour of Bangladesh with an inspired performance on day four of the second Test, turning a match in the balance into an emphatic victory. Nathan Lyon was once again the hero, ripping the heart out of the home side’s second innings to enable his own top order to knock off the paltry target in quick time.
The Test-best performance of Australia’s premier off-spinner dominates every aspect of how this match will be assessed. His wickets in the first innings kept Australia in the game, those in the second positioned his country for victory. A Wisden’s worth of milestones were passed along the way.
The drawn series feels a fair result with Bangladesh proving that at home at least they belong at the top table of international cricket. Hopefully this year’s successes against England and now Australia will convince the ICC they deserve more recognition for their performances. This series, for example, would be beautifully poised heading into a deciding third Test.
Thank you for your company. On behalf of all the OBO crew it’s been a joy getting to cover this series. Adam Collins will be filing more from Chittagong I expect, so keep your eyes peeled for that, otherwise, it’s over and out.
Photograph: A.M. Ahad/AP
Australia win by seven wickets
16th over: Australia 87-3 (Handscomb 16, Maxwell 25) Target: 86
Nasir Hossain has a twirl but it’s meat and drink for Maxwell who cuts hard to the point fence. Sensing one hit can win it, Maxwell tees off and smashes the ball over long on to win the Test for Australia!
15th over: Australia 77-3 (Handscomb 16, Maxwell 15) Target: 86
More gorgeous footwork from Handscomb, again staying leg-side of the ball and hitting crisply through the covers. Maxwell unfurls another reverse sweep, which now has its own dedicated boundary sweeper protecting it.
Only now an over or two away from a drawn series.
14th over: Australia 69-3 (Handscomb 11, Maxwell 12) Target: 86
A case of when, rather than if, now for Australia with the Victorian pair at the crease looking to score from every delivery. A wristy sweep from Maxwell is the pick of the shots, earning four well in front of square. He has massive forearms, Maxwell, reminiscent of Ricky Ponting, making shots like those seem out of perspective, almost cartoonish.
13th over: Australia 63-3 (Handscomb 10, Maxwell 7) Target: 86
Lovely footwork from Handscomb on display this Shakib over, firstly engineering space to hit to the on-side, then getting leg-side of the ball to hit to the cover boundary. The bowler thinks he’s extracted his revenge with the final delivery of the over, sending an LBW appeal upstairs but it’s all bat, no pad.
12th over: Australia 55-3 (Handscomb 3, Maxwell 6) Target: 86
MAXY! The Victorian strides to the crease in a baggy green, sniffs a couple of deliveries then launches Taijul for a massive straight six. He backs that up with a reverse sweep, but straight to the gully fielder. We’re not coming back tomorrow.
11th over: Australia 48-3 (Handscomb 2, Maxwell 0) Target: 86
Moments before that dismissal Renshaw was engaged in debate with short leg, did that make him lose concentration? Anyway, Maxwell the new man at the crease, and still a little bit of work to do for Australia.
WICKET! Renshaw c Mushfiqur b Shakib 22 (Australia 48-3)
Oooh, is it game on again? Renshaw absent-mindedly plays at one outside off from Shakib he needn’t and tickles it into the gloves of the faultless Mushfiqur. Sloppy dismissal, and one that could just send a few pulses racing in the Australian dressing room.
10th over: Australia 48-2 (Renshaw 22, Handscomb 2) Target: 86
Smith will be disappointed with his dismissal, and his return from a below-par series with the bat for him. In his absence Handscomb settles into his groove, rotating the strike nicely with Renshaw.
Uh oh #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/CKtTBS2RTu
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 7, 2017
Updated
WICKET! Smith c Mushfiqur b Taijul 16 (Australia 44-2)
Smith, caught behind, bowled drinks.
The break does for the skipper, bottom edging Taijul’s first delivery into the safe gloves of the keeper. A nothing delivery, kept a little low, but Smith couldn’t cash in.
Bangladesh still fighting.
Updated
9th over: Australia 44-1 (Renshaw 20, Smith 16) Target: 86
Renshaw and Smith continue to keep the scoreboard ticking over despite Mustafizur’s exertions.
A result tonight now seems more likely than not, especially with the option of the extra half-hour.
8th over: Australia 39-1 (Renshaw 17, Smith 14) Target: 86
Taijul replaces Shakib and Smith wastes no time sashaying down the track and whacking the ball over the bowler’s head for four. He backs that up with four more through the covers, leaning forward, reaching and wristing it with incredible timing.
As Mrs Merton put it, let’s have a heated debate!
Ian Gould is getting ticked off with Bangladesh for their attempts to scuff the ball up by throwing it into the turf at every opportunity. Coming after the vision of Shakib Al Hasan doing something a little dubious yesterday, how do we all feel about this kind of behaviour?
Personally - I don’t see anything wrong with it. It’s their ball, why should it matter what they do with it?
7th over: Australia 30-1 (Renshaw 17, Smith 5) Target: 86
Mustafizur still charging in, emboldened by Warner’s wicket, but Renshaw is resolute, offering a straight defensive bat whenever required and leaving often.
Meanwhile, at Lord’s, West Indies are batting and England are dropping, again.
6th over: Australia 29-1 (Renshaw 17, Smith 4) Target: 86
Smith can obviously score rapidly but Warner’s dismissal increases the likelihood of play extending into a fifth day.
Or maybe not. Renshaw channeling the spirit of his departed opening partner and lofting Shakib over long-on for four and then a six. Both times using nimble footwork (for a big lad) and hitting safely with the spin with a minimum of fuss. Lovely clean hitting; head staying down with the strokes, not over-hitting.
A late cut two completes a very good over for Australia.
5th over: Australia 17-1 (Renshaw 5, Smith 4) Target: 86
Warner was going after everything Mustafizur threw at him and looked set for a rapid 50 until a short delivery got big on him and forced him to pull a delivery much closer to his grille than he would have liked.
Smith off the mark with a trademark glide to the third-man boundary.
WICKET! Warner c Soumya b Mustafizur 8 (Australia 13-1)
5th over: Australia 13-1 (Renshaw 5, Smith 0) Target: 86
That spices things up a bit. Cramped by a short delivery Warner’s attempted pull flies straight into the hands of deep square leg.
4th over: Australia 11-0 (Renshaw 4, Warner 7) Target: 86
Warner’s not given up hope of a day off. The first delivery of Shakib’s over is slapped to cow corner with one of those effortless free swings of the bat, like the reaper bringing down his scythe. Such fast hands.
Renshaw’s playing a very different game and is beaten on the crease from the last ball of the over, a shot met with whelps of anguish in the field.
3rd over: Australia 6-0 (Renshaw 4, Warner 2) Target: 86
Renshaw off the mark with a four glanced to fine-leg. Mustafizur not making much happen out there. His stock ball is a tad short and his bouncer has been unthreatening. The odd full delivery has kept low, like the one Renshaw scored from, which was out if he’d failed to get any willow on it.
Richard McKeary asks:
Is there a decent crowd at the ground? It’s hard to tell from the pictures on the OBO, but it seems like there are more souls than normal for a Bangladesh home test. Could this be their Ashes 2005 moment?
Adam reports from the ground that it isn’t packed but it is a work day and those that are in are very enthusiastic. ODIs are where it’s at for big crowds here, apparently.
2nd over: Australia 2-0 (Renshaw 0, Warner 2) Target: 86
So, what will David Warner do, will he want to end this tonight if he can? Of course. Second ball of Shakib Al Hasan’s over he’s down the pitch and lofting the ball over the bowler’s head. Looks like he under-clubbed though, the pitching wedge holding in the outfield and not reaching the fence.
The GOAT! @NathLyon421 is the first Australian to take 13 wickets in a Test in Asia! #howzstat #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/6bbDmoN6Dt
— ICC (@ICC) September 7, 2017
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Renshaw 0, Warner 0) Target: 86
Mustafizur with the new ball for Bangladesh and he beats Renshaw’s outside edge first up. Five further dot balls follow that one and Australia’s chase begins with a maiden. Bangladesh not setting the most adventurous fields, despite needing to make early breakthroughs with the new ball.
20 overs in total are scheduled for tonight - plus that extra half hour if a result is nearby.
John Jones has emailed in a question:
Big thanks to you Sam and Adam for the live blog. Almost as good as being there, but a lot cooler. Is Cummins as menacing as it seems? If so, what type of threat will he pose on the faster Aussie tracks come Ashes time?
John, he’s not a menacing presence, a la Patrick Patterson or Andre Nel, but he is quick, and smoothly quick, in a way that seems to catch batsmen off guard. What should make England nervous is Cummins will be one of three or maybe even four quicks in Australia’s Ashes attack. Over the course of the Ashes it would be nice to see all of Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins and Pattinson unleashed at different times. That pace quartet have suffered so long with injuries but have the potential to usher in a new era in aggressive fast bowling.
Brisbane and Perth will be lively, the other three tracks not so much, if recent history is anything to go by, but even those will be more hostile than we’ve seen in Chittagong and Cummins has still managed to put batsmen under pressure.
In case any Australian fans were nervous:
Teams successfully defending targets < 100 in the 4th inngs:
— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) September 7, 2017
85 Aus vs Eng, Oval, 1882
99 WI vs Zim, Port of Spain, 2000#BANvAUS
Australia need 86 to win. 23 overs today. They'll lose a couple for the changeover, but get an extra half-hour later. Ample time. #BANvAUS
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) September 7, 2017
Bangladesh all out 157 - Australia require 86 runs to win
So, 86 for Australia to chase and probably just about enough time to do it tonight, if they put their minds to it.
Lyon finishes with 6-60.
WICKET! Mustafizur b O'Keefe 0 (Bangladesh 157)
You heard it here first folks, Adam Collins was all over Mustafizur’s capabilities with the willow and it takes only two O’Keefe deliveries to disrupt the pegs. A routine left-arm orthodox delivery is played down the wrong line and Bangladesh are all out 157.
71st over: Bangladesh 157-9 (Mehedi 14, Mustafizur 0)
Lyon keeps Mehedi honest for a maiden, which puts the, ahem, not especially prolific Mustafizur on strike for the start of the 72nd over.
Mustafizur has 65 runs in 93 games of professional cricket. Milk the strike, Mehedi. #BANvAUS
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) September 7, 2017
70th over: Bangladesh 156-9 (Mehedi 13, Mustafizur 0)
Mehedi continues to remain watchful against O’Keefe but milks the strike with a lap sweep from the final delivery. Bangladesh lead by 85.
A selection of some more records for Nathan Lyon:
- 9th player in history to take six-wickets in three consecutive innings
- 2nd Aussie after Clarrie Grimmett
- 1st Aussie to take 13 wickets in Asia
I’m sure there’s more, but that’ll do for now.
69th over: Bangladesh 156-9 (Mehedi 13, Mustafizur 0)
Ok, so I was probably selling the GOAT a little short with my wicket description, that was a genuine quicker ball that deceived Taijul. 99kph as compared to an average in the high 80s early 90s.
WICKET! Taijul b Lyon 4 (Bangladesh 156-9)
A bit happening this Lyon over for a change. An inside edge onto pad first up is followed by the first delivery that’s misbehaved in a long time with a regulation offie exploding off a length.
That clearly gets into Taijul’s head as a routine Lyon delivery beats his defensive prod and splays the stumps. More joy for Lyon and one step closer to victory for Australia.
68th over: Bangladesh 156-8 (Mehedi 13, Taijul 4)
Back to the rapid maiden action but this O’Keefe over contains a false shot from Mehedi, driving on the up just past short cover with the ball squirting off a leading edge.
67th over: Bangladesh 156-8 (Mehedi 13, Taijul 4)
Steve Smith’s had enough of this moribund session and decides to bring every fielder within the batsman’s earshot, including a few right under his nose. Plenty of ‘chat’ going on too; ‘banter’ I think it’s called nowadays, especially when it’s inappropriate and nobody wants to take responsibility.
All the extra catchers leaves a skerrick of space for Taijul to score the session’s first runs, behind square on the leg side.
Bangladesh’s Mehedi Hasan Miraz avoids a Pat Cummins bouncer during the fourth day of the second test cricket match against Australia in Chittagong. Photograph: A.M. Ahad/AP
66th over: Bangladesh 154-8 (Mehedi 13, Taijul 2)
Hmmm, apologies for the brevity, but more of the same from O’Keefe and Mehedi, only at a faster rate.
Nathan Lyon is only the 2nd visiting player after Shane Warne (2004) and the 10th player with 5 five-fers in Asia Tests in a year. #BANvAUS
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) September 7, 2017
65th over: Bangladesh 154-8 (Mehedi 13, Taijul 2)
Lyon to continue his incredible series with the second over after tea. He’s bowling around the wicket to the left-handed Taijul.
As with the previous over, very little to describe in a routine maiden.
64th over: Bangladesh 154-8 (Mehedi 13, Taijul 2)
Steve O’Keefe to open the bowling after Tea, around the wicket to Mehedi Hasan.
Both batsman and bowler seem pretty happy to share a nondescript maiden on what remains a decent surface, especially for the fourth day of a Test match.
Evening all. As Adam mentioned, 31 overs or two hours of play remaining in the day. You’d think if Bangladesh bat for another half hour or so we’ll be guaranteed to return tomorrow but a couple of quick wickets and this could be all over tonight. Australia will certainly prefer that scenario and not have to run the gauntlet of the monsoonal thunderstorms that have skirted around Chittagong all week.
The day so far - as most of the days have this series - has belong to Nathan Lyon. It’s been another incredible effort that’s seen further records tumble in a tour that has elevated his standing in the game.
Leading wicket-takers in 2017
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 7, 2017
1. @NathLyon421 - 45 wickets at an average of 22.35
2. Jadeja - 44 @ 22.4
2. Ashwin - 44 @ 26.95
🐐 #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/JPVLKUxTvr
With figures of 12-150, this is a new career-best in Test cricket for @NathLyon421 🐐 #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/TNCPk8sPli
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 7, 2017
A five-for for Nathan Lyon in three consecutive inns in Tests. Last Australian spinner to achieve this feat was Shane Warne in 2004 #BanvAus
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) September 7, 2017
TEA: Bangladesh 154-8
63rd over: Bangladesh 154-8 (Mehedi 13, Taijul 2)
Taijul off the mark, getting out the way of Cummins but getting enough bat on it to bunt a couple through point. He’s forced to negoitiate the usual bouncer/yorker combination to get through to tea, but does it well.
...
So, the home side go to the break having scrapped their way to a lead of 82. Better than they may have hoped for after the early collapse, but short of where it’ll need to be if they can seriously threaten to make a play for this series in the fourth innings later today and tomorrow.
Three wickets in the session; Lyon two of those. That makes five for the innings, 12 for the match and overtakes Bedi on the all-time list, It also tops Ashwin/Jadeja for 2017 wicket-takers, with 45 now to his name. Cop that.
As for Cummins, his return brought an immediate reward, the wicket of captain Mushfiqur just when he was getting dangerous. The Australian quick just too threatening. It felt that way too when he hit Mehedi’s helmet soon after arriving at the crease, but he’s still there punching on.
That’s the state of play. I’m handing over to JP Howcroft, who will see you through to stumps. Or maybe even a result. It’ll be a session of 31 overs, so there remains ample time. Thanks for your company. Let’s do it again soon. Bye!
62nd over: Bangladesh 152-8 (Mehedi 13, Taijul 0)
Lyon into what will probably be his last over before the interval. Mehedi edges the first. But with soft hands, it evades danger. Couple taken. He does well getting forward to the off-spinner, who has 12-for-152 in the match to date. You can hear Steve O’Keefe in the mic, who is really giving it the big ones encouraging his spin in twin. Good stuff. He’ll now get a breather before going at it again following the tea break, Cummins to take the final over.
It's a second five-wicket haul of the match for @NathLyon421, and he's now the leading Test wicket taker in 2017! #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/nsBd6GoEfu
— ICC (@ICC) September 7, 2017
61st over: Bangladesh 150-8 (Mehedi 11, Taijul 0)
“Uh ohhhhh!” Matt Wade says in earshot of the stump mic when Taijul gets up the business end. I suspect that’s an effort to remind the new man that Cummins is going hurt him. He doesn’t. Under the bouncer. A bit skittish, but sufficient. Keeps the full one out when it arrives. Not the prettiest, but it’ll also do.
60th over: Bangladesh 149-8 (Mehedi 11, Taijul 0)
Taijul just does the best he can. Playing inside the line, no issue there. Another left-hander, so Lyon will fancy his chances here. But he gets through it. They lead by 77. Ten minutes until the tea break is due. If they get another before then, the session will almost certainly extend by half an hour.
WICKET! Moninul c Cummins b Lyon 29 (Bangladesh 149-8)
They have the breakthrough! And it is the last recognised batsman Mominul, a big top edge from a sweep. Pat Cummins, racing around in the deep, makes an athletic diving catch. What a player that man is. Lyon has five! His third bag of that or more on the trot. He has more wickets than anyone in the planet in 2017. It is the second time has has 12 in a match, but this will end up his best career figures by some margin. Still two wickets on the shelf for him. It’s all coming up Nathan.
59th over: Bangladesh 149-7 (Mominul 29, Mehedi 10)
Cummins gets his bouncer to Mehedi in first up. He’s ready for it, getting underneath. Good batting. Then a single with soft hands, taking him to double figures. Runs he has really earned. The crowd are involved again, doubling in numbers - if not tripling - through the course of this session. Two men out for the hook when Mominul fronts up, but he takes on the hook anyway, albeit the more controlled version of that stroke, straight to ground for one to keep the strike.
“If, and it’s a fairly big if, Bangladesh manage to get a lead of 140-150 it will be interesting to see whether the Australian top order will be able to curtail there aggressive default setting and bat slowly,” Phil Withall muses. “The desire to win in style and send a retort to certain parts of the Australian media may be a little bit tempting. I think that, although the visitors have the edge, there is still uncertainty in this match and I love it.”
Me too. With rain in the mix as well, all four results still possible with four sessions to go. Can’t complain about that. But Australia winning by stumps tonight probably still the most likely. Yeah?
My colleague from The Australian, Andrew Faulkner, has gone up to the roof. He doesn’t think there is much cloud about despite the sun being well hidden. Maybe the rain will miss us after all? Quarter hour to tea.
58th over: Bangladesh 147-7 (Mominul 28, Mehedi 9)
Right. Nathan Lyon again, 25 minutes to tea. Rain surely not far. Just has that feel about it. He still has them coming out nicely more often than not, but his 27th over here and it shows when he drags one short, pulled by Mominul for a couple. Brendon Julian on TV suggesting that Smith gives the no. 1 tweaker a rest to get him back fresh after the break, and I tend to agree. Lead now 75. These two have put on a nagging 18 of those.
57th over: Bangladesh 145-7 (Mominul 26, Mehedi 9)
Good from Mominul early in the over, getting inside the line and pulling Cummins to midwicket. Mehedi’s turn. Bounced straight away! He’s a nice man, young Pat, but he was always going to spit some short stuff at him. Ooh, another too. Past the edge. Not quite unplayable, but in that family. When the full one inevitbly comes, the young man is up to it, smashing Cummins down the ground. That’s the way. Made of tough stuff. Has a massive future.
56th over: Bangladesh 140-7 (Mominul 25, Mehedi 5)
Four singles. A sign that they know if the board is going to keep ticking, it has to be against the spin while Cummins is in the attack trying to hurt them ball after ball. A couple of competent sweep shots. Mehedi happy to get forward and defend - thus, not have to face next up - at the end of the over. Lead is 68.
55th over: Bangladesh 136-7 (Mominul 23, Mehedi 3)
It’s short on the resumption, but Mehedi plays it nicely down behind square and off strike. Good cricket from the teenager. Gutsy stuff. Mominul does the rest.
Ooooh. We have a long delay. Fast and nasty. Cummins has smashed Mehedi in the grill. It’s whacked so hard that the back of his helmet, the protective flap at the back, has flown off. Watching the replay, it has smashed into his thumb on the way through as well. In turn, the physio is out there with the doctor giving him a good examination. “Thank goodness for helmets” the take of Brian Murgatroyd on the telly. Not wrong. It’s the thumb on his bowling hand. Doesn’t look like he is going to retire hurt, but going to take his time before fronting up again.
While we have this pause, I’m fairly sure having spent a fortnight in this country now that it is going to rain soon. This is the cloud we get just before it chucks down. Sorry about that.
Updated
54th over: Bangladesh 132-7 (Mominul 22, Mehedi 0)
Another change of ends for Lyon. And straight past Mominul’s edge! He’s had more turn from here, and turned this square. And pretty much does it again. Lyon overtook another champion of the game, Bishan Bedi, with his fourth wicket (his 267th). Can still draw level with Herath on 23 if he cleans up the whole tail. Mominul ensures that won’t happen this over, crunching a cut to the boundary. An edge follows! Maxwell deflects off his back at gully from a push off the back foot spitting off the blade, but it doesn’t go to hand. He is bowling that well, Lyon. This could all happen very quickly.
Game set ....#AUSvBAN
— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) September 7, 2017
53rd over: Bangladesh 129-7 (Mominul 19, Mehedi 0)
Cummins comes down at such a pace that it makes otherwise astute batsmen do things they would never consider otherwise. He needn’t have played at that, Mushfiqur. It was nothing more than a prod. Mehedi the new man has to face the music here. And he’s jumping around too, fat inside edge second up.
“Agarn (close enough) a character in F-troop played by Larry Storch,” reveals Nicholas Jewlachow on our earlier topic.. I think, on reflection, I had seen that. But as if Matt Wade is an F-troop fan? David O’Hanlon also dropped me a line to confirm this. Most appreciated. I’m still going to probe Wade on this.
WICKET! Mushfiqur c Wade b Cummins 31 (Bangladesh 129-7)
There he is! Pat Cummins back, and into the book again within three ball! Too quick for Mushfiqur, who is prodding and tickling behind, Wade completing the straightforward catch. What a performer this young fast bowler is. Just when they needed it, they have got the Bangladesh captain. Pat Cummins, you star.
52nd over: Bangladesh 129-6 (Mushfiqur 31, Mominul 19)
Larry Agar. Last one before drinks. He’s operating with a straight line from over the wicket. That’s enough to entice Mominul into an intense reverse sweep last ball. He doesn’t make contract, but it doesn’t matter as the ball has cleared Wade’s gloves, running away for four byes. Hmmmm. Drinks it is. Hour to Bangladesh? I think so. But for the session to be going their way these two need to be there when they next break.
51st over: Bangladesh 124-6 (Mushfiqur 30, Mominul 19)
Lyon into his 24th now. He’ll has to tire soon. He’s only been taken off to change ends, doing that a few times now. Make your mind up, Gaz. This is uneventful, until the Australians go up for a legside caught behind. Fairly ambitious sort of appeal, more like they had to go through the motions. No consideration of review.
Graham Crouch is probably bang on in his take on the eventual Australian chase: “Anything more than Smith and Warner can make is nasty.” As it stands, they need 54.
50th over: Bangladesh 123-6 (Mushfiqur 29, Mominul 19)
Garry bowling with Larry. That’s what Agar is being called by Matt Wade for reasons we are yet to ask him about. Unless you clever lot have the answer? All ears. It is Larry, then. Cut my Monimul then driven by Mushfiqur. Singles to both. They’re into a groove here. Looking to score. Even if it means exposing themselves to come risk, as Mominul does when reaching wide to cut but playing and missing.
“Is it possible that there will be a repeat of the infamous Mumbai Test?” asks Amod Paranjape. “What does the pitch tell you mate?”
Well, it isn’t as bad as Mumbai in 2004, over in about two and a third days with Michael Clarke bagging a six-fa. Sure, there is spin. But nothing outrageous.
49th over: Bangladesh 121-6 (Mushfiqur 28, Mominul 18)
First ball of the new Lyon set pulled for one by Mushfiqur. Shorter again later in the over, cut by Mominul for one more. Men around the bat excited when he floats the last one up, but no bat pad chance forthcoming. The lead is now 50.
“This is peak GOAT right here, isn’t it?” says Pete Salmon on the email, about the Aussie no. 1. “Has any cricketer ever been more suited to having the dreams of Guardian readers lived vicariously? He essentially get batsmen out by offering convincing arguments as to why they should go. Basically, unless he makes an announcement urging a yes vote in the marriage referendum, this may be as good as life gets for all of us. Let us all take a moment to live in the moment, as I’m sure Tony Robbins must have said.” I can’t add to that. Perfectly put.
Updated
48th over: Bangladesh 119-6 (Mushfiqur 27, Mominul 17)
So it’s Agar for another crack at it - this time the northern end. All over the place, this. Maybe on purpose, in the name of throwing the ball around? He’s pitching up to Mushfiqur then Mominul, who both take singles. Then pulling back to get a bit more bounce. The skipper keeps the strike with one behind point.
47th over: Bangladesh 116-6 (Mushfiqur 25, Mominul 16)
Oh right, it was a change of ends for Lyon. So Agar, for the second time, replaced after playing that role. Not sure he’ll fancy that. Anyway, it’s Nathan-Nathan to now go from the southern end. And he’s keeping Mominul honest. A timely maiden. Might have to invest in building that pressure up again for a bit.
46th over: Bangladesh 116-6 (Mushfiqur 25, Mominul 16)
SOK has been swung around to the end that Lyon has preferred, replacing the man with four wickets. Lyon needs to take a breather at some stage, so this stands to reason. But first up, the left-armer misses with a half-volley, put away with easy by Mominul. Per my tweet a couple of overs ago, this bloke is no conventional number eight. Three further singles. Monimul has 16 of the 19 these two have added.
What constitutes the Nasty Little Chase here, do you think? Email. Tweet. Find me on MSN Messenger. AOL. ICQ. Want my number?
45th over: Bangladesh 109-6 (Mushfiqur 24, Mominul 10)
Ashton Agar! How you been? Just standing out there in the field watching the other two ragging it around? Have a little jam roll. Not a bad one either, a maiden lodged to Mushfiqur who has to rush to get his bat down to quicker, straighter deliveries on a couple of occasions. Promising early signs for him.
44th over: Bangladesh 109-6 (Mushfiqur 24, Mominul 10)
Dropped? Little edge from the bottom of the bat to another that doesn’t get up, cutting at the time. Misses the glove. Not fair to call it a half-chance, really. Hard to see how he could have taken it. Mominul into it though, a man who normally bats in the top three. He finishes the over with a classy late cut. Looked in complete control dinking wide of Wade and slip. Lead 37. (I won’t mention it every over, don’t worry).
Three of Mominul's four Test tons have been made at Chittagong. #BANvAUS
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) September 7, 2017
43rd over: Bangladesh 103-6 (Mushfiqur 24, Mominul 4)
“Ooh yes, Sok!” Matt Wade likes what he is seeing. He’s never been louder than in this Test. Singles through the legside to both early in the over, keeping Mushfiqur in defence for the rest. Keeps giving it a chance to spin.
42nd over: Bangladesh 101-6 (Mushfiqur 23, Mominul 3)
Lyon slips outside leg stump to left-handed Mominul from around the wicket, not a lot of turn from there so he grabs a couple to get off the mark. First Aussie keeper in 62 years to effect three stumpings in a Test, according to uber-statto Mazher Arshad on TV. Not sure if that was followed by a caveat? Still, pretty good going in response to the most intense scrutiny. Another couple of singles taken, Mushfiqur retaining the strike with a push down the ground. 100 up along the way.
@collinsadam "They’re building into something here." Nicely done Adam -Grrrrr!
— Chris Drew (@mesnilman) September 7, 2017
It’s what I do. Just ask Mitch Marsh.
41st over: Bangladesh 97-6 (Mushfiqur 22, Mominul 0)
Oohing and aahing away is O’Keefe from the southern end again. A much improved performance from the left-armer in this innings, barely missing his mark. Noticably mixing up his pace too, in this over pushing Mushfiqur back with a couple skidding on, before looping up to draw the skipper forward. His response is a solid one. The lead is 25.
40th over: Bangladesh 97-6 (Mushfiqur 22, Mominul 0)
I said below it nearly didn’t carry to Wade on the full. On watching a replay, it definitely did bounce twice before arriving in his gloves. Making it all the better take. Not often you are collecting from a spinner off the second bounce. His third stumping for the match. Nicely done. Lyon immediately turning square to Mominul, the last of the recognised batsmen at no. 8. This is why they went with the extra batsmen. He’s desperately needed for a meaningful contribution. Right now. Looking solid here.
WICKET! Sabbir st Wade b Lyon (Banglaesh 97-6)
20 wickets in the series for Lyon! Sabbir comes down the track and misses, sneaks low and turns, more or less under the bat. The 54-run stand between the two is over. Wade had to keep his cool in order to complete the take, it only just getting to him on the full. He did exactly that before just about smashing all the stumps out of the ground. He likes it a lot! As does Lyon, 11 for the match. Three away from equalling Herath for the most in a two-Test series, four on the shelf.
39th over: Bangladesh 97-5 (Mushfiqur 22, Sabbir 24)
O’Keefe to bowl his 15th. The third spinner getting the bulk of the work, Agar only seeing given the one set so far. Mushfiquir gets one behind point with a steer, but not completely in control. Sabbir down the track gets one as well. Again, good accumulation
38th over: Bangladesh 95-5 (Mushfiqur 21, Sabbir 23)
Huge bounce and spin, into Mushfiqur’s thigh pad I think, but the Australians are keen on the catch. Taken by Warner around at leg slip. But they’re not keen enough to send it upstairs. The captain drives Lyon straight for a single, keeping the strike. They’re building into something here.
37th over: Bangladesh 94-5 (Mushfiqur 20, Sabbir 23)
That’s right, I forgot when OBOing to factor in that Steve O’Keefe bowls his overs in about 75 seconds. Mushfiqur into the 20s with a flicked single. Going nice, in the circumstances. Sabbit less adventurous this time around, defending the rest.
As the afternoon session commences, here is #WinViz pic.twitter.com/beLGgwsSKM
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) September 7, 2017
36th over: Bangladesh 93-5 (Mushfiqur 19, Sabbir 23)
Crowd involved in the eastern stand. Fair to say we were scrambling around in the press box after the fifth wicket fell, worried it could be over by lunch. But not the case at all. Mushfiqur had words with Umpire Gould before lunch. Unsure what it was about, but gives a sense that he’s still very much in this scrap. Until the very end. Singles to both again, Sabbir pushing, the captain tucking. Then the former goes at the reverse! Misses. He’s tried it on time and again since arriving. Four byes! A lot going on here. Wade can’t get a glove to a ball that shoots very low. Best he could have done is maybe kick it away. But four added. Bangladesh’s lead is into the 20s. Come on, sing it with me: from little things, big things grow.
35th over: Bangladesh 86-5 (Mushfiqur 17, Sabbir 22)
SOK from the southern end. Mushfiqur adds one to begin. Sabbir has the right idea, trying to smack O’Keefe off a length. Doesn’t get any of it. So, they are going to try and keep the pressure on with runs. Looks their best bet, to be fair.
Updated
Thank you, Sammy.
Is this the final session of the match? It could be. Or are we about to enter a period of nasty-little-chase specualtion? Not a bad effort from Sabbir and Mustafiqur to put an end to a nearly-lethal 4-for-11 collapse while still well in the red. Now, they’re 11 to the good from a local perspective. This should be good.
Players are a few minutes away from joining us here at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. I found a mural of the great man on the wall of the posh entry this morning. Learned that he was a senior union acvitist and later health minister in one of the early Bangladesh administrations.
History lesson over. Let’s have a tune and get into it.
LUNCH: Bangladesh 83-5 (lead by 11 runs)
A fantastic session of cricket where the game moved very quickly, and in the main towards Australia. The wicket is well and truly awake now as Bangladesh find themselves 11 runs ahead, but five wickets down after destroyer-in-chief Nathan Lyon picked up three wickets to go with his first innings 7-fa.
He bowled in tandem with Steve O’Keefe for the majority of the session and cut a swathe through the Tigers’ top order, at one stage leaving them reeling at five wickets down and thirty-odd in arrears. O’Keefe picked up one of his own as we pondered whether Bangladesh might make it to the fourth innings, such was the sense of drama around every delivery.
But Test cricket is great, and so it turned to Rahim and Sabbir Rahman to launch a mini-fightback with a partnership of 40 that has taken the hosts into the lead. They batted purposefully with an array of sweeps both traditional and reverse that had the effect of deepening the field and allowing a few singles to accrue. Without doubt they rode their luck, but you need to in these sorts of conditions.
Even so, they are effectively 11-5 heading into the fourth innings and it will take a little more luck and purpose for them to dig themselves out and give Australia something nervy to chase. If and when that lead hits 80-90 and beyond, antipodeans from everywhere will become very, very nervous. The whole thing augers very well for the next session, so I urge you to stick around as our man Adam Collins brings you the descriptions from this pulsating day’s cricket.
Thanks for joining me. Catch you next time.
Updated
34th over: Bangladesh 83-5 (Rahim 16, Sabbir Rahman 20)
Last one before lunch, but it doesn’t stop Sabbir Rahman trying to reverse sweep the GOAT unsuccessfully from the first delivery. It’s just the way he plays, presumably. It’s worked, too. He follows it with another reverse sweep which elicits a half-shout for LBW. Not out, says Gould. The tension mounts. Lyon decides to come around the wicket. Sabbir Rahman defends. And on the last ball Rahman chips one just short of Maxwell! Screams of anguish everywhere as it bounces ahead of the Victorian. The batsman survives. Both survive - they’ve kept Bangladesh in the match. That’s lunch! A few thoughts to follow.
33rd over: Bangladesh 83-5 (Rahim 16, Sabbir Rahman 20)
O’Keefe is up for an LBW early on here after Rahim shuffled back in his crease and looked very square-on, but the ball found his inside edge and instead he collects a run for it. Llong gets this one right and Australia don’t review. There’s one more from the last ball through square leg. Sabbir Rahman and Rahim are nearly there. To lunch, that is.
Updated
32nd over: Bangladesh 81-5 (Rahim 15, Sabbir Rahman 19)
Three off Lyon’s over. They’re riding their luck these two, but fortune favours their bravery. A reverse sweep from Sabbir Rahman bounces over Smith and he gets two for it. The next almost carries to short leg after he lunges forward. It finds the turf before Handscomb can grab it. Feels like the match is swinging slightly again here as we head to lunch. Pulsating stuff.
31st over: Bangladesh 78-5 (Rahim 14, Sabbir Rahman 17)
Just the one from this over as O’Keefe flattens his trajectory and keeps Sabbir Rahman contained, largely on the front foot. It’s a quick one and we look towards lunch, which is 8 or so minutes away. In effect Bangladesh are 6-5, but to my mind they’re only a significant partnership away from making Australia very nervous. These two are...dare I say...looking...good.
30th over: Bangladesh 77-5 (Rahim 13, Sabbir Rahman 17)
Looking more and more comfortable, these two. Three from the over, and it’s becoming a sweep-a-thon. A reverse sweep falls short of Cummins, and the next one balloons over Warner at leg slip for two. Attack probably the best defence for Bangladesh here as they keep the score ticking over.
For a bowler, Nathan Lyon is so damn likeable. Modest, self-effacing and better than I ever thought he could be.#RealOpeners#AUSvBAN
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) September 7, 2017
Updated
29th over: Bangladesh 74-5 (Rahim 12, Sabbir Rahman 15)
The sweep works again for Sabbir Rahman, again splitting the men on the square boundary as it hurtles into the fence. He’s watchful for the rest and all of sudden it doesn’t feel like every ball is doing something. Bangladesh are into the lead - looking back, Australia again would have ‘taken this’ situation, but every time they get a firm grip on the game, Bangladesh fight back. This partnership is now crucial. Test cricket is great.
28th over: Bangladesh 70-5 (Rahim 12, Sabbir Rahman 11)
Far more positive from both batsmen again, though only one from this over. The deficit moves to two. How many more do Bangladesh need to make a game of this? Not too many, I’d venture. There will be some nervous Australian batsmen watching this. Whereas Lyon and O’Keefe had caught NBA Jam-level Fire some overs ago, the flame has been somewhat contained now, and we can expect the Tigers to take the lead soon. Ebbing and flowing, this.
@sjjperry I would have thought the Agar experiment was worth another over???
— joelsmith (@joel_a_smith) September 7, 2017
Agreed with Joel’s tweet - if this Test has shown us anything, it’s Smith’s faith in O’Keefe. Thought Agar was excellent in the first innings too.
27th over: Bangladesh 69-5 (Rahim 12, Sabbir Rahman 10)
Another good one for the Tigers, this time from O’Keefe’s bowling. Two singles to the vacant midwicket followed by a swept boundary from the concluding ball of the over leaves them 3 behind Australia, with five wickets in hand. The boundary was hit uppishly and briefly had the attention of deep square, but was hit firmly and was never in danger. A counterpunch here from both batsmen.
26th over: Bangladesh 63-5 (Rahim 7, Sabbir Rahman 9)
So an update on the scenario here, Bangladesh trail by 9 runs now after Sabbir Rahman successfully reverse sweeps Lyon for a boundary and four more singles are picked up. That’s 8 from the over. One of them was a lofted shot that fell just short of long on, but both batted with intent this over, and they’re nearly in the affirmative.
25th over: Bangladesh 55-5 (Rahim 5, Sabbir Rahman 3)
Sorry Holland fans (looking at you Hasto), SOK’s back - Agar used as makeweight for the guy Smith trusts. It’s an eventful six balls with two reviews and was that a dropped catch? Rahim presses forward on the last ball and the ball pops out to Handscomb at silly point but he can’t hang on. Rahim rubs his shoulder, Wade dramatically says ‘oh no!’ Who do you believe?
Rahim, personally.
Not out...
Sabbir Rahman was down the track but Australia liked it anyway. It went on with the arm but struck the batsman well outside off, and may not have been hitting the stumps anyway. Not the best review.
Another review!
It’s Australia challenging this time. It’s for LBW, given not out by Llong. A long chat between O’Keefe, Wade and Smith.
We have a review!
O’Keefe back into the attack. Llong gives Sabbir Rahman out. Massive inside edge. Carry on.
24th over: Bangladesh 54-5 (Rahim 5, Sabbir Rahman 2)
Lyon (who else?) comes from the other end now, replacing O’Keefe. Not sure SOK did enough to satisfy the howling wolves at his NSW door there, but he was solid foil for Lyon during a productive period for Australia. Rahim tries to reverse sweep Lyon again. He does enough to survive the rest - he’s shuffling across the crease a fair bit.
23rd over: Bangladesh 54-5 (Rahim 5, Sabbir Rahman 2)
There’s a little delay here as Rahim applies The Magic Spray to his index finger following one that reared on him from O’Keefe. Meanwhile Agar replaces the GOAT, and as with his spinning colleagues starts with a fairly benign over. He does concede a boundary though, as one that strays down leg is tickled fine. Turns out it’s byes. Wade couldn’t do much. A single later and that’s all she wrote. Can the Tigers salvage something? 100 lead too much to ask?
22nd over: Bangladesh 47-5 (Rahim 3, Sabbir 1)
Two singles to Rahim, one to Sabbir in another quieter over - though it still feels like every ball is doing something. Still feels like Australia’s innings could be interesting, if they get there. A commanding sweep from Rahim later on is a little more like it.
🐐 x 10
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) September 7, 2017
21st over: Bangladesh 44-5 (Rahim 1, Sabbir 0)
A quieter over here (there’s no wicket), but at one point Rahim tries to reverse sweep Lyon. It’s short, it hits the batsman’s shoulder, and kind of sums up Bangladesh’s efforts this innings. In fairness, they probably need some audacity to claw something out of this situation, though I’m not sure a reverse sweep/pull is quite the route to take, says the blogger who hasn’t played for five years. Bangladesh trail by 28 runs.
20th over: Bangladesh 43-5 (Rahim 0, Sabbir 0)
Two balls remain to Sabbir, the first one from O’Keefe’s a little full and the next one scoots through from short of a length. It’s just kept out.
Matt Wade says ‘come on Hasto’, to O’Keefe, no doubt a reference to his best mate plumping for rival Jon Holland overnight. Everything’s fun for Australia now, you see.
Updated
WICKET! Nasir c Smith b O'Keefe 5 (Bangladesh 43-5)
O’Keefe gets his first after stringing some good sets together. It’s flighted, draws Nasir into a front foot prod and catches the outside edge, travelling easily to Smith at first slip. O’Keefe makes a ‘shh’ gesture with his forefinger to his mouth. Feels like a bit of a procession now.
19th over: Bangladesh 39-4 (Rahim 0, Nasir 1)
It’s moving quickly now, this match. After the wicket there’s a shout for LBW that Lyon rejects himself - there was too much turn. Hmmm, this innings mightn’t last long.
It seems 31% of cricket fans are fools. https://t.co/4gzeZ76KqP pic.twitter.com/uFesXDax13
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) September 7, 2017
Updated
WICKET! Shakib c Warner b Lyon 2 (Bangladesh 39-4)
Ten for Lyon! He was drawn in on the front foot by one curving in and it spun away, grabbed the outside edge and was taken low by Warner in that short gully/third slip position. Kind of like a catch you’d see in dressing room cricket. Excellent bowling, Bangladesh well and truly on the ropes now.
18th over: Bangladesh 37-3 (Shakib 0, Nasir 1)
Another maiden from O’Keefe who too has a duo of men in the cordon and a man in close on the off-side under the lid. I remember a time when the off-side, in-close man wouldn’t wear a helmet, and the man on the leg would. Mark Waugh under the floppy, Ricky Ponting under the baggy green. Times have changed. For the better. Australia squeezing here.
17th over: Bangladesh 37-3 (Shakib 0, Nasir 1)
The ball’s spitting even more now, as Shakib defends the rest of Lyon’s over. It’s the one’s landing a little shorter of a traditionally good length causing the most trouble, as one fizzes past Shakib’s bat toward the end of the over. Bangladesh trail by 35, three down.
WICKET! Kayes c Maxwell b Lyon 15 (Bangladesh 37-3)
Lyon strikes again! It’s a regulation delivery that may have stopped in the pitch slightly. Kayes is neither defending nor attacking as he punches the ball, checks his shot, and essentially offers Maxwell catching practice at cover. Huge wicket, and that’ll be drinks
16th over: Bangladesh 37-2 (Kayes 15, Nasir 1)
Much better over from O’Keefe. A maiden. Gets a couple to rip past the edge with spin and bounce. Growing into it, hopefully. Good foil for Lyon who continues next over.
15th over: Bangladesh 36-2 (Kayes 15, Nasir 1)
Lyon’s first ball to Nasir (and Nasir’s first ball) finds his bat, then pad, and it’s squeezed about two metres to the left of Handscomb to strained anguish from Australians all. Close. He’s off the mark next ball. A short gully is moved in to increase the pressure on Kayes, who has one spun past his bat on the concluding ball of the over.
Tamim stumped dancing. Wade does the rest. Lyon into the book. Two early ones, Bangladesh still trail by 40. #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/2jDnvTbKeL
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) September 7, 2017
Updated
14th over: Bangladesh 36-2 (Kayes 15, Nasir 0)
O’Keefe continues to Kayes. Interestingly, Nasir has been promoted up the order - probably in a bid to throw a right hander into the otherwise left-handed mix. O’Keefe’s over is good until another half-tracker is dispatched brutally for four behind square from Kayes. He’s letting himself down with those. Five good, one terrible. Bangladesh trail by 36.
Updated
13th over: Bangladesh 32-2 (Kayes 11, Nasir 0)
Lyon marches on, as do Australia. Thought Bangladesh were just creeping into the game through accumulated boundaries but an ill-advised departure from his crease saw Tamim on his way. Not good from a Bangladesh point of view, he was trying to give himself room to spank him over cover, presumably, which never looked a good plan.
Updated
WICKET! Tamim stumped Wade b Lyon 12 (Bangladesh 32-2)
Tamim employs his flamboyant dance again but pays a much bigger cover charge this time! Sorry. He charges at Lyon, is nowhere near the pitch, tries to rescue it with a prod to cover but the ball is long gone. Good stumping from Wade. The ball fairly exploded off the pitch which gave Wade some work to do. He took it cleanly and had the bails off in good time.
12th over: Bangladesh 31-1 (Kayes 10, Tamim 12)
After only a handful of runs in the last three overs, O’Keefe lets the Tigers off the hook with a half-tracker from his first ball that’s smashed off the back foot for four. The rest of his over is good; he beats Tamim in flight twice to have him chipping uppishly, same goes Kayes in the one delivery he faced. The ooh’s and ahh’s are building, just as Bangladesh’s deficit is decreasing. They’re only 41 in arrears now.
11th over: Bangladesh 25-1 (Kayes 9, Tamim 7)
Cummins off, Lyon on. Lyon’s been spun around. Kayes withdraws into defence mode here - he’s keeping Lyon out. You feel like a moment’s never too far away in this situation. Beyond going aerial, it’s hard to see where Bangladesh will find their runs. Kayes plays out a maiden.
10th over: Bangladesh 25-1 (Kayes 9, Tamim 7)
Lyon off, O’Keefe on. Can he do what he did in Pune? Unfair question. It looks a little slow, there’s little turn for him, and a straight one has Wade responding ‘OH that’s close to a nick SOK!’ The ball in question was hit to cover. The next one, though, rushes Tamim and finds his inside edge. His follow up is good too, as Tamim hides his bat behind pad to one the spins sharply into him. There’s an appeal from behind the wicket with no support from the bowler.
9th over: Bangladesh 23-1 (Kayes 8, Tamim 6)
A few boundaries accruing for Bangladesh now. Cummins is around the wicket to the left handed Kayes and angles in to his hip. Kayes gets one of those open-faced-thick-edges through gully that rolls away for four. Fielders might have hands on heads, batsmen might say they were in control. A few balls later sees Kayes fending one - again at the ribs - that stayed airborne for a little while off the bat. Alas, no short leg. He finishes with a bouncer that lands short of Wade. Yikes.
8th over: Bangladesh 19-1 (Kayes 4, Tamim 6)
Ooh! Tamim dances flamboyantly down the deck to Lyon on ball two and goes inside out over cover-point! He didn’t get all of it, he was beaten in flight, but he finds the boundary. Interesting. He was bogged down in the first innings - and here too - so perhaps a new tactic. He reduces Australia’s lead to 53 and defends the remainder of the over.
7th over: Bangladesh 15-1 (Kayes 4, Tamim 6)
Whereas Cummins sought some swing with full deliveries early on, here he’s almost exclusively short. It’s rib target practice for the Penrith man, though it’s not to intimidate so much as exploit cracks and find one to zoot through. It has the effect of locking the batsmen in to the crease and having them waft with their hands. The plan nearly comes off as Kayes edges one that finds its way between Wade and Renshaw at first slip for four. It didn’t carry, not by a long way, but it was a genuine nick. Neither moved for it, strangely.
Updated
6th over: Bangladesh 11-1 (Kayes 0, Tamim 2)
Lyon has a short leg and a slip in close, with five on the off side and four on-the-on. It encourages Tamim to hit through the relatively free leg side, but he opts against that trap, instead choosing to defend with an almightily straight bat. Bangladesh still trail by 61, and are one wicket down.
Updated
5th over: Bangladesh 11-1 (Kayes 0, Sarkar 9)
There ends a successful over for Cummins, who got the wicket and exposed the impending misbehaviour of the wicket. Australia’s kingdom for another paceman, maybe?
The #CumminsCorridorOfConfusion is bowled into 👌👌and 1st wicket down Bangladesh 61 runs behind #bangvaus pic.twitter.com/51IfIzRqXZ
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) September 7, 2017
WICKET! Sarkar c Renshaw b Cummins 9 (Bangladesh 11-1)
Reward for Cummins after he’d pushed Sarkar back on the crease for the entire over before pitching up, catching the batsman frozen on the crease, and eliciting the edge which flew through to Renshaw who snaffled it comfortably enough. The previous ball to the wicket saw a shorter one skid through very low, which likely contributed to Sarkar’s indecision. The game’s about to start moving, I sense.
4th over: Bangladesh 11-0 (Tamim 2, Sarkar 9)
Lyon plays with a few angles to both batsmen this over, sometimes delivering the ball close to the crease, sometimes wide. No real sign of pitch demons as yet, and both Tamim and Sarkar are able to collect singles to move the Tigers past the first 10 runs for the innings. They do everything in tens in high level cricket, don’t they? The deficit is 61.
3rd over: Bangladesh 9-0 (Tamim 1, Sarkar 8)
Cummins unleashes a bouncer early on that whizzes well over Tamim’s head and sends Wade climbing to reel it in. He tries again and finds a better height this time. Tamim tries to jump-cut but misses. The latter finds a single through cover but Sarkar, facing his first delivery from Cummins, helps himself to a boundary via an authoritative cut following width from the Australian. He responds by bumping him, of course. Sarkar survives.
It’s hard not to lionise Cummins as he toils as the sole paceman in this humidity. Would he look even better in a headband?
2nd over: Bangladesh 4-0 (Tamim 0, Sarkar 4)
Lyon will take it up from the other end, and all of a sudden the spinner-opener novelty has evaporated. Novelty will do that to you. He’s driven for four from his very first delivery from one tossed up wide outside off, but otherwise contains Sarkar. The lead is now 68.
Australian Light Horse signal squadron playing cricket at a WWI camp in Bethlehem. pic.twitter.com/slGdPEfnb0
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) September 7, 2017
1st over: Bangladesh 0-0 (Tamim 0, Sarkar 0)
Cummins will lead the third innings charge, and he starts at a thunderous 140km/hr. It’s Tamim who’s dealing with a spate of full, scrambled-seam deliveries successfully enough, though a few beat the left-hander’s outside edge. It’s a maiden.
Del Portro serving for the match v Federer in the US Open
Check the blog here while we wait for the 3rd innings to commence.
Credit to Mustafizur
He threatened throughout and was rewarded with a very creditable return of 4-84. Success with pace in Asia: who knew?
Aust picked one pace bowler for a match in Asia where the pitch did have a bit of bounce. Think about that #BANvAUS
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) September 7, 2017
Australia all out 377
So that’s all she wrote for Australia, with yesterday’s slow(er) collapse rendering today’s efforts redundant. It means they carry a 72 run lead into the second innings, which I suppose they would have taken if offered it ahead of time. As ever, they’ll rue the inability of anyone to significantly contribute beyond the top 4, but they do have an opportunity to wrest the game toward them with a strong bowling performance.
A question to everyone - how many can Australia chase in the fourth innings? Or, more neutrally put, how many do Bangladesh need to win?
I’m not sure Australia can do anything beyond 200.
WICKET! Lyon c Kayes b Mustafizur 0 (Australia all out 377)
Didn’t take long! Lyon’s out to the paceman Mustafizur in the last ball of the day’s 2nd over. He’d been angling the ball across the GOAT all over and finally found the edge - a thickish one taken by Kayes in the cordon after Lyon drove hard at one.
119th over: Australia 377-9 (O’Keefe 8, Lyon 0)
Shakib takes the first ball of the day and fires in a maiden. A couple have ripped already. Bittersweet for the tweakers with blades out there, I’m guessing. O’Keefe, who was a very good batsman in his youth, blocks, blocks and blocks again.
Before we ponder the fourth innings innings theatre, there’s the small matter of the third
Barring some exceptionally poor bowling or outstanding batting - and both are possible, I suppose - one imagines this game will start to move quite quickly. Bangladesh can notionally bat Australia out of the match, and series, though the pitch should have something to say about that. Lyon will be Australia’s main man again, but he’ll need support. Agar and Cummins were excellent in the first innings, though O’Keefe was poor. A little has been made of his less-than-ideal preparation leading in to this Test - he’ll need to fix that quickly if Australia are to stand a chance.
Play will commence imminently.
This match clearly garnerning some interesting in Australia, if Rick’s tweet is on the money
Day 3 of the #BanvAus Test was the most watched program on pay TV in Australia yesterday, topped 100k for first time https://t.co/qtKLOuYLc3
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) September 7, 2017
Hello...
and welcome to our OBO coverage of day four from Chittagong, where this Test is poised beautifully as it heads down the straight.
Australia, ever the bridesmaids in these parts, have themselves a lead that was yesterday whittled from commanding to handy. They’re 72 ahead with one wicket in hand after another largely self-imposed mess allowed the home side a path back into the match. Such is Australia’s history-bred fear, that were the teams’ positions reversed we’d no doubt be beginning to herald a Bangladeshi victory. Instead, the sense of a 150-220 nerve-flaying fourth innings chase beckons.
It’s aided by the weather, where Chittagong admittedly has no sun at the moment, but importantly no rain either. It means play will begin very shorty, where the players will find some further dust, larger cracks, and the commencement of the full gamut of the late-Test pitch demons to content with. It should be intriguing; it should be fun.
I’m on @sjjperry on Twitter, or sam.perry.freelance@guardian.co.uk for anything and everything, just about.
Welcome to day four #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/zGjZiTRh8K
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 7, 2017
Updated
Sam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s where we’re at:
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