England stutter after Bangladesh collapse
DHAKA: Tamim Iqbal scored his eighth Test century before Moeen Ali took 5-57 to help England dismiss Bangladesh for 220 runs on the first day of the second Test yesterday. In a topsy-turvy day’s play in Dhaka, opener Tamim made a quickfire 104 off 147 balls while Mominul Haque scored 66 as the hosts surged to what should have been a commanding score of 171 for one. But Tamim’s dismissal, lbw to Ali, sparked a spectacular collapse, as Bangladesh lost their last nine wickets for 49 runs with seven of their batsmen failing to make double figures.
England then suffered their own mini-collapse as they were reduced to 50 for three before rain brought an early end to proceedings, 11.3 overs before the scheduled close of play at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium. Shakib Al Hasan removed Ben Duckett for seven before young Mehedi Hasan ended Alastair Cook’s innings at 14 through lbw.
Cook, who equalled Michael Atherton’s record of 54 Tests as England captain at the start of play, was initially given not out but the decision was overturned after Bangladesh reviewed. Mehedi then dismissed Gary Ballance for nine, the batsman’s third single figure score of the series, to bring Bangladesh right back into the game, with England still trailing them by 170 runs. Ali was unbeaten on two at the close, leaving him centre stage at the start of day two of the Test after his starring role in the drama of the opening day.
Tamim and Mominul dominated the morning session after Woakes earned England an early breakthrough removing opener Imrul Kayes for one, with Duckett taking a spectacular catch at point. Tamim smashed 12 boundaries but he became Ali’s first victim of the day shortly after driving the same bowler for back-to-back fours through cover to bring up his third century in six Tests against England.
It ended his 170-run stand with Mominul, who had also looked solid until he too was bowled by Ali for 66. The all-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes shared the other five wickets as the tourists tightened the noose on a Bangladeshi side still reeling from the disappointment of losing the first Test by just 22 runs.
Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim had called on his team before the start of the Test to show more consistency and learn how to drive home their advantage at key points in matches. But the rapid succession of wickets in the afternoon session pointed to Bangladesh’s continued frailty in highpressure situations, severely damaging their hopes of squaring the two-match series.
England made two changes to the team that won the first Test last Monday in Chittagong, with left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari handed a Test debut for Gareth Batty and paceman Steven Finn coming in for Stuart Broad who has been rested. Bangladesh picked allrounder Shuvagata Hom ahead of Shafiul Islam in their only change. They are playing with just one specialist fast bowler. —