Aussies on top after Lyon spins web around Tigers
dhaka — Opener David Warner hit 75 not out on Tuesday as Australia stayed in a position of dominance after Bangladesh set a 265run target in the first Test.
At the end of Day 3, Australia reached 109-2 and need 156 more runs to register only their third victory in the sub-continent in the last decade.
Australia captain Steven Smith, unbeaten on 25, gave Warner good support on the tricky wicket.
Warner started rapidly, hitting two fours from off-spinner Mehidy Hasan in the first over. But Hasan then dis- missed Matt Renshaw for 5.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan had taken Usman Khawaja (1), forc- ing him to continue his dismal form in the sub-continent as he top- edged to deep backward square leg after trying to play a sweep shot.
“He’s such a big player for us and you could just see it in his eye when he was out there,” Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins said of Warner. “He was so focused. We always say ‘be the bull’ and he looked like he was the bull out there, just focused and taking the game on.”
Warner, on 14, survived a tough chance when he edged to first slip off Shakib Al Hasan’s delivery. Warner hit 11 fours and one six, facing only 96 balls. Smith believed he was stumped in the first ball he faced off Hasan and walked off. The TV replay, however, confirmed his feet didn’t cross the line.
Coming off an epic series in India in which he piled up 499 runs in four Tests, including three centuries, Smith was watchful throughout the innings and hit only one boundary.
Warner kept scoring, much to the disappointment of the Bangladeshi bowlers.
“That last hour or so should give us a lot of confidence,” Cummins said. “Smithy and Dave look like they had really good game plans out there and they were in control.”
Earlier, Nathan Lyon kept Australia in the contest, claiming six for 82 to help bowl out Bangladesh for 221 after the hosts had resumed on 45 for one.
Lyon’s 10th five-for helped Australia claw back into the game when Bangladesh were in charge. Leftarm spinner Ashton Agar contributed with 2-55.
Lyon broke through in the sixth over, dismissing nightwatchman Taijul Islam for 4 after Bangladesh resumed at 45-1. He then dismissed Imrul Kayes (2) with a delivery that carried extra bounce. —