Warner, Lyon put Australia back on track in Test

DAVID Warner scored an unbeaten half-century to steady Australia as they chased a challenging victory target in the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka yesterday.

Warner, who remained unbeaten on 75, scored the bulk of the runs as the visitors advanced to 109-2 at stumps on the third day, still needing another 156 for victory.

Nathan Lyon earlier claimed 6-82 to dismiss Bangladesh for a modest 221 in their second innings and give Australia a scent of victory.

Bangladesh looked confident when spinner Mehedi Hasan trapped Matt Renshaw leg-before for five and Usman Khawaja hoisted a catch to Taijul Islam off Shakib al Hasan in the next over.

Australia, teetering on 28-2, nearly lost another wicket when skipper Steve Smith appeared to have been stumped off Mehedi and walked.

But he was called back after replays showed his feet had dragged slightly behind the crease as wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim broke the stumps.

Smith was dropped again by Imrul Kayes off Mehedi on three. He went on to score 25 not out and put on an undefeated 81 with Warner for the third wicket.

Warner, who faced 96 balls and hit 11 fours and a six, also had his share of luck when he was dropped by Soumya Sarkar on 14 off Shakib.

Earlier, Lyon took full advantage of a spinning track at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium to halt Bangladesh’s progress.

Tamim led the hosts’ batting charge in his 155-ball innings but his dismissal off fast bowler Pat Cummins for 78 triggered a collapse.

The left-hander fell to a short ball that whistled past him. Umpire Aleem Dar turned down a muted appeal from the bowler before Smith decided to review.

Replays suggested the ball had brushed Tamim’s gloves, ending a fine innings which included eight fours to follow his 71 in the first innings.

Shakib was next out for five, hoisting a catch to Cummins at extra cover off Lyon. But Mushfiqur Rahim stayed calm until an unfortunate run out for 41 at the non-striker’s end.

Lyon removed Nasir Hossain (0) and Ashton Agar sent back Sabbir Rahman (22), dragging the hosts down further.

Bangladesh, ranked a lowly ninth in Tests, are seeking their first ever win over fourthplaced Australia in what is only the fifth Test meeting between the two teams.

Sri Lanka selectors quit

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s cricket selectors resigned en masse yesterday, days after fans hurled abuse and projectiles at the beleaguered national side as they suffered another humiliating thrashing on home soil.

The five selectors, led by former skipper Sanath Jaya- suriya, handed a joint letter of resignation to Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, a ministry official said.

The announcement comes midway through India’s fivematch one-day international tour in Sri Lanka, a series the hosts conceded on Sunday with a third straight loss.

Fans, tired of thumping losses, leadership changes and mismanagement, booed the home side and lobbed bottles as they approached inevitable defeat at Pallekele.

Play was held up for about half an hour, after which India recorded a six-wicket win.

“The selection panel felt they should step down, allowing the board to appoint a fresh set of selectors in view of the criticism and the crowd reaction on Sunday,” a source close to Jayasuriya said.

The ODI series loss came hard on the heels of India’s three-Test series whitewash over Sri Lanka on home soil.