Cricket: Gutsy Warner leads Australia's strong reply against Bangladesh

Sports Tuesday 05/September/2017 16:18 PM
By: Times News Service
Cricket: Gutsy Warner leads Australia's strong reply against Bangladesh

Chittagong: David Warner made 88 not out and featured in two significant partnerships to lead Australia's robust reply to Bangladesh's first innings total of 305 in the second and final Test on Tuesday.
Smarting from their embarrassing defeat inside four days in Dhaka, Australia's top order fired up to help them reach 225 for two as the tourists, still 80 runs behind, press for a pride-salvaging victory in Chittagong.
Known for his explosive batting, Warner hit only four boundaries in his patient knock as he kept Australia on course for a handy first innings lead which often clinches Test matches in the subcontinent.
Peter Handscomb, Warner's partner in their unbroken 127-run stand, braved Bangladesh's relentless spin assault and dehydration to remain not out on 69. His fourth Test fifty included five boundaries.
Earlier, Nathan Lyon claimed seven for 94, his second-best figure, as Bangladesh added 52 runs to their overnight score of 253 for six before collapsing.
The off-spinner, who had claimed five wickets on Monday, struck with his second delivery of the day, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim for 68.
Ashton Agar dismissed the other overnight batsman Nasir Hossain for 45 with Matthew Wade, whose place in the playing XI was in doubt going into the Test, taking a fine catch.
Warner then ran out Mehidy Hasan before Lyon dismissed Taijul Islam to claim his seventh wicket.
When Australia returned to bat, Mushfiqur took a spectacular diving catch to dismiss Matt Renshaw for four but Warner and Steve Smith raised 93 runs for the second wicket to overcome the loss.
Warner defended resolutely, letting Smith dominate their partnership, before the Australia skipper was bowled through the gate for 58 by spinner Taijul Islam. Smith hit eight boundaries in his fluent knock.
New man in Handscomb proved an able ally as Warner frustrated Bangladesh with his compact defence, scoring largely through singles and twos, and he was upset with himself for not carrying on.
The heat and humidity took a toll on Handscomb who looked dehydrated and needed medical attention towards the end before resuming batting.
Rahim wasted a stumping opportunity when Warner, then on 73, charged out to Mehidy Hasan and missed the ball which kept low and hit the stumper's pad.
Security was tightened around the match after the Australian team bus was hit by a rock on Monday.
Scoreboard
Bangladesh 1st innings
Tamim Iqbal lbw N. Lyon 9
Soumya Sarkar lbw N. Lyon 33
Imrul Kayes lbw N. Lyon 4
Mominul Haque lbw N. Lyon 31
Shakib Al Hasan c M. Wade b A. Agar 24
Mushfiqur Rahim b N. Lyon 68
Sabbir Rahman st M. Wade b N. Lyon 66
Nasir Hossain c M. Wade b A. Agar 45
Mehidy Hasan run out 11
Taijul Islam c S. Smith b N. Lyon 9
Mustafizur Rahman (not out) 0
Extras (b-5) 5
Total (all out, 113.2 overs) 305
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-21, 3-70, 4-85, 5-117, 6-222, 7-265, 8-293, 9-296.
Bowling: P. Cummins 22-5-46-0; N. Lyon 36.2-7-94-7; S. O’Keefe 23-0-79-0; A. Agar 23-9-52-2; G. Maxwell 4-0-13-0; H. Cartwright 5-1-16-0. Australia 1st innings
M. Renshaw c M. Rahim b M. Rahman 4
D. Warner (not out) 88
S. Smith b T. Islam 58
P. Handscomb (not out) 69
Extras (b-4, lb-2) 6
Total (2 wkts, 64 overs) 225
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-98.
To bat: G. Maxwell, H. Cartwright, M. Wade, A. Agar, P. Cummins, S. O’Keefe, N. Lyon
Bowling: Mehidy Hasan 20-2-53-0; Mustafizur Rahman 10-0-45-1; Shakib Al Hasan 15-0-52-0; Taijul Islam 15-1-50-1; Nasir Hossain 1-0-4-0; Mominul Haque 2-0-6-0; Sabbir Rahman 1-0-9-0.
Umpires: Ian Gould, Nigel Llong
TV umpire: Aleem Dar
Match referee: Jeff Crowe