Shakib felled but forgiving of Southee

If Shakib Al Hasan was feeling angry and sore after being felled by a Tim Southee throw, he had plenty of time to calm down and forgive the New Zealand bowler.

The new holder of Bangladesh’s highest test innings, after plundering 217 on day two of the first cricket test, had a major false start when a reckless return throw from Southee cracked him a painful blow on the left ankle in the morning session.

Regathering a shot from Shakib, Southee fired the ball back wildly and struck the batsman on the ankle as he turned his back and took evasive action.

Southee is an accurate thrower and if he was intending to hit the stumps he missed terribly by as much as 2m.

A token raised hand from the bowler didn’t ease Shakib’s pain as he writhed on the turf looking annoyed.

But after his 418-minute epic, and Bangladesh record 359 partnership with captain Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib was in a forgiving mood.

‘‘That happens in cricket. No one does it on purpose. There’s nothing to say about that,’’ Shakib said, adding with a smile he still felt some pain but was OK.

Southee defended himself, blaming some indecision after he fielded the ball.

‘‘It’s one of those ones, you go to throw and then you hold onto it and it comes out and unfortunately it hit him. It wasn’t intentional, obviously,’’ Southee said.

At the time it looked awful and may well have warranted closer inspection from match referee Javagal Srinath.

Sky commentator and former international Ian Smith was unimpressed.

‘‘You just cannot do that,’’ he said during the call. ‘‘For me that is one of the no no’s of cricket. That has caused him a bit of pain and there is absolutely no reason for this.’’