Warner, Smith lead Australia back from brink

Sports Desk: Australia's leaders have stood tall to give the team a fighting chance in a nasty, 265-run chase in the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Vice-captain David Warner (75 not out) and captain Steve Smith (25 not out) made it through to stumps on day three with Australia two wickets down and still requiring 156 runs to win.

Having been dismissed for 217 in the first innings, a successful chase on a pitch boasting plenty of gremlins seemed unlikely, especially after the loss of Matt Renshaw (5) and Usman Khawaja (1).

That brought Smith to the crease, but before steadying the ship, he put a scare through the side when he appeared to be stumped off his first ball.

He was walking towards the fence as the umpires went upstairs, but was saved by maybe the length of one of his studs.

Smith was equally lucky to survive two overs later when he prodded a ball to short leg, whose hands did not close quite fast enough to remove the skipper.

At the other end, his deputy, who was given a life when on 14 by a dropped chance at slip, made his way to a battling century that the team and the man desperately needed.

As dire as the situation seems, the chase could have been a much uglier prospect if not for Nathan Lyon.

The off-spinner's 6-82 off 34.3 overs helped restrict Bangladesh to 221 in a second innings that threatened to get way out of hand.

Hoping to drive its advantage home on day three, Bangladesh lost nightwatchman Taijul Islam and Imrul Kayes early, bringing captain Mushfiqur Rahim to the crease with Tamim Iqbal.

The experienced pair — Tamim in his 50th Test and Mushfiqur playing his 55th — continued to build Bangladesh's lead and took it to the brink of 200 before a rapid Pat Cummins ball flicked Tamim's glove on the way through to Matthew Wade.

All-rounder Shakib al-Hasan was clearly feeling confident after his five-wicket haul from day two, but tried for one slog too many against Lyon, skying a ball to Cummins at cover, bringing Sabbir Rahman to the middle.

The number seven helped to add a quick 43 runs with Mushfiqur before accidentally helping to run him out.

Sabbir's straight drive took some of Lyon's finger before breaking the stumps at the non-striker's end with the skipper well out of his crease in the 68th over. In the next two overs Nasir Hossain (0) and Sabbir (22) became the second and third Bangladeshis to fall with the score on 186.

Lyon completed his five-wicket haul when Peter Handscomb pouched a very sharp chance at short leg to get rid of Shafiul Islam (9) and made it six with Mehedi holing out after a haphazard 26.

After passing Richie Benaud's Test wicket mark of 248 in the first innings to become Australia's most decorated spinner not named Shane Warne, Lyon is now three behind seventh place — Jason Gillespie's 259.

He has also taken 33 wickets in six Tests this year, with 28 of those scalps claimed in the subcontinent.
 

risingbd/Dhaka/August 29, 2017/A K Azad