Bangladesh were within sight of a historic victory at lunch on the fourth day in Mirpur, where they needed three wickets and Australia 66 runs to win. David Warner scored a fighting century, the second of his Test career in Asia, but at the break Australia’s hopes largely rested on the shoulders of Glenn Maxwell, who was on 14, alongside Pat Cummins, who had 2, with the total having moved on to 199 for 7 in their chase of 265.
Bangladesh had snared five Australian wickets during the morning session for the addition of 90 runs, as they used the turn and variable bounce in the surface to apply pressure on the Australians. On the third evening, Warner and Steven Smith had put Australia in a strong position, and they picked up where they left off on the fourth morning, as Warner completed the 19th hundred of his Test career and, given the circumstances, one of his finest.
But with the score on 158, Warner tried to pull Shakib Al Hasan and was trapped lbw for 112, which gave Bangladesh renewed hope and ended the Warner-Smith stand on 130. Four overs later Smith followed, caught behind for 37 when he edged Shakib, and from there the pressure was firmly back on the Australians.
Peter Handscomb fell to a brilliant catch at first slip from Soumya Sarkar, who managed to get a hand on Handscomb’s flying cut off Taijul Islam and parried the ball up so that he could dive back and take the chance on the second grab. Taijul followed by having Ashton Agar caught and bowled, after Matthew Wade had been lbw walking across in front of his stumps to Shakib.
By the end of the session, Shakib had four wickets to add from his five from the first innings, as well as his 84 runs from the first day. The only way to improve his 50th Test would be to pick up another wicket for a 10-for in a famous Bangladesh win.
Source: The Daily Ittefaq
