All-round Shakib puts Bangladesh on top

Shakib Al Hasan grabbed the limelight with all-round brilliance in his 50th Test, helping Bangladesh claim first-innings lead over Australia in the first Test on Monday (August 28).

A day after rescuing Bangladesh from a top-order collapse with a handy 84, Shakib claimed 5 for 68 to bowl Australia out for 217. Having secured a 43-run first-innings lead on a turning track in Dhaka, Bangladesh consolidated its position further, reaching 45 for 1 at stumps on the second day.

Soumya Sarkar fell to Ashton Agar after scoring 15, but Tamim Iqbal was unbeaten on 30 with Taijul Islam, the nightwatchman, yet to open his account as Bangladesh stretched the overall lead to 88.

Resuming the day on 18 for 3, Australia suffered a collapse and slipped to 144 for 8. That it got past 200 was because of Ashton Agar, the No. 9, who made an unbeaten 41. Agar’s 49-run ninth-wicket stand with Pat Cummins (25) gave some respect to Australia’s first-innings reply and ensured it had something to bowl at second time around.

Australia lost Steven Smith, the captain, early when he was bowled by Mehedi Hasan. Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb added 69 runs for the fifth wicket after surviving a trial by spin with Mehedi and Shakib bowling in tandem.

But Taijul Islam trapped Handscomb lbw for 33, while Renshaw edged Shakib to slip on 45. Mehedi sent back Matthew Wade to finish with 3 for 62, and Shakib got Glenn Maxwell stumped for 23.

Agar then frustrated the Bangladesh bowlers during his 97-ball stay at the crease that was laced with two fours and a six. He took the attack to the opposition but ran out of partners after Cummins and Josh Hazlewood fell to Shakib's guile soon after tea.

Bangladesh's openers then made a sedate start with Tamim and Sarkar grinding Australia's bowlers. They scored just around two runs an over for 20 overs, before Sarkar threw away all the patience and his wicket when he slogged Agar to Usman Khawaja at long-on.