Crafty Warner leads Oz reply with Handscomb
: An unbeaten century stand between David Warner and Peter Handscomb led Australia’s strong reply against Bangladesh on day two of the second and final Test in Chittagong on Tuesday.
The visitors were 225-2 at stumps in their first innings, trailing by 80 runs after Bangladesh were bowled out for 305.
Warner was batting on 88 with Handscomb on 69 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Skipper Steve Smith hit a gritty 58 off 94 balls before being bowled by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam as the visitors slipped to 98-2.
The left-handed Warner and Handscomb then put together 127 runs to thwart the Bangladesh bowling attack, which failed to take a wicket in the final session of play.
Handscomb, who recorded his fourth Test fifty in just his 10th game, took regular drinks breaks as he battled exhaustion and dehydration in the final halfhour.
The swashbuckling Warner played a sedate innings, having hit just four boundaries during his 170-ball stay at the crease so far.
Warner rode his luck with two reprieves. He was dropped at short-leg on 52 and then Mushfiqur Rahim missed a stumping when he was on 73, with Taijul and Mehedi Hasan being the unlucky bowlers.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh police say they’re investigating after the Australian team bus was damaged by a small rock or stone as it travelled to the hotel after the opening day of the Test, although they think it was likely related to road works.
Brief scores: Bangladesh (overnight 253-6) 305 (M Rahim 68, S Rahman 66, N Hossain 45, N Lyon 7-94, A Agar 2-52) v Australia 225-2 (D Warner 88 no, S Smith 58, P Handscomb 69 no)