Tigers fight back in Dhaka

Tamim and Mahmudullah strike opening day half-centuries

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 21st March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tigers fight back in Dhaka

Tamim: Swashbuckling 85

Second Test Match
Mirpur
Bangladesh 330-8 (Tamim Iqbal 85, Mohammad Mahmudullah 59) v England

Related links

Teams

Also see

England endured a frustrating start to the second Test as Bangladesh reached stumps on day one well set on 330-8 in Dhaka.

Aggressive opener Tamim Iqbal (85) and Mahmudullah (59) struck contrasting half-centuries after the hosts won the toss and opted to make first use of another lifeless track.

Debutant James Tredwell, called into the team in place of Michael Carberry, claimed his maiden Test wicket to end Tamim's stay, and the Kent off-spinner also dismissed Shakib Al Hasan (49) en route to figures of 2-85.

But it was Graeme Swann who once again starred with the ball for England, the charismatic finger spinner finishing the opening day with 3-94 from his 30 overs.

Dangerous

Tamim wasted no time getting started early on the opening day, steering the first ball of the match down to the third man boundary.

Three more boundaries followed in the first four overs, and such was the frenetic nature of Tamim's start that he had reached 25 before opening partner Imrul Kayes had troubled the scorers.

Swann was introduced in just the eighth over and Tamim promptly crashed the Nottinghamshire man for two fours to bring the 50 partnership up off 48 balls.

Tamim continued to live dangerously and was dropped by captain Alastair Cook at mid-on as he tried to launch Stuart Broad over the top.

Imrul (12) was not so lucky and was well caught by the diving Steve Finn two balls later to give Broad the first wicket of the day.

Tamim continued his assault unperturbed and brought up his sixth Test half century after smashing Swann for 19 off one over.

Tredwell eased any debut nerves with a maiden to Junaid Siddique, and went on to remove danger man Tamim 15 short of his century when his sweep was adjudged to have looped up off a glove to Matt Prior.

It was not such a memorable start to Test cricket for Jahurul Islam, however, as he lasted just six balls before being trapped on the back foot by Swann for a duck.

Assured

Mahmudullah and Junaid played tentatively until lunch but the latter was more expansive after the restart, finding the rope three times in the space of four Broad deliveries.

However, he became Swann's second victim in the 38th over, wrapped on the pad in front of middle stump for 39.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib came to the crease at 167-4 and batted with fluency before trying one aggressive sweep shot too many off Tredwell and falling lbw.

Mahmudullah brought up his half-century moments earlier with a crunching cover drive but ended his innings on a soft note as he dabbed Finn (1-44) tentatively to Paul Collingwood at point.

Talented Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim (30), who made 95 in the first Test, once again looked assured at the crease, and it took a brilliant delivery from Tim Bresnan (1-40) to end his stay.

Swann returned late in the day to take the wicket of Abdur Razzak. However Naeem Islam (33no) and Shafiul Islam (8no) calmly batted out the day as Bangladesh edged towards 350.

Comments (1)

  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1

Matthew Nunn says...

Disagree that this was Bangladesh's day, England should bowl them out for 350, and I've seen nothing from the Bangladeshi bowling attack that suggests they could bowl England out cheaply, overall a decent day for England!

Posted 11:11 20th March 2010
  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private