BAN v AUS, 2nd Test, Day 3 Review: Miraz-Mustafizur bring hosts back in the match after Warner's ton

David Warner beat his previous 154-ball hundred against India to record the slowest ton of his career after rain washed out the first session of play on day 3 in Chittagong. With 67 overs on offer, Peter Handscomb and Warner took their unbeaten century stand from the previous day and went past the 150 mark but Handscomb lost his wicket to a direct hit by Shakib Al Hasan, as the vice captain at the other end was about to enter the three figure mark. Handscomb went back for a well made 82.

For Bangladesh, birthday boy Mustafizur Rahman was outstanding, as he picked up three wickets in his 20 overs. The pacer could have bagged Glenn Maxwell’s wicket too, to make it 4 against his name, but a drop catch by Mehidy Hasan Miraz didn’t help matters. Maxwell went on to score 38 runs and put on a 48-run partnership with Warner. The deputy displayed his extraordinary side, as he was on the field for the entire duration of the Test match before hanging out to Imrul Kayes off the bowling of Rahman for 123.

Dropped catches and missed chances

The visitors kept losing wickets at regular interval, and a few drop catches and ordinary fielding helped them go past the hosts total of 305. Miraz got both Maxwell and Cartwright under his kitty while classic spinning delivery from Shakib castled Ashton Agar’s stumps. Australia were 376/9 when Aagar went back to the pavilion, and the visitors could add one more run before bad light stopped play.

At the end of third day’s play, Australia gathered a lead of 72 runs with a wicket left. Bangladesh fought back hard after Warner became the sixth player to record two successive hundreds in Asia. Rahman and Miraz didn’t give away much to the Aussie batters, as they lost their grip on the game. Just like the visitors, Bangladesh too bowled with lot more discipline and conceded only one extra.

Mushfiqur’s men will look to wrap up the visitor’s innings without any further delay, while Australia will be eager get a 100 run lead at least to make it tough for the Bangladesh’s batsmen on day 4.

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh- 1st Innings  305 (Mushfiqur Rahim 68, Sabbir Rahman 66, Nathan Lyon 7/94)

 Australia- 1st Innings 377/9 in  118over (David Warner 123, Peter Handscomb 82, Mustafizur Rahman 3/84)