e_Paper, Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Sports
19
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
DT
PLAYS OF THE DAY
Taijul rips through Smith defence
Australia batted confidently despite
losing opener Matt Ranshew early. Two
of their best batsmen – vice captain
David Warner and captain Steve Smith
– were batting with composure and
scoring runs quite easily. These two
formed a 93-run partnership for the
second wicket. There was not that much
turn on the pitch and both Warner and
Smith played the spinners with aplomb.
In the process Smith picked up his 21st
Test fifty and was looking towards a big
hundred. Bangladesh brought Taijul Islam
to the attack in the 29th over for the
first time in the innings and he took the
all important wicket of Smith straightaway.
It was an arm ball from Taijul. Smith
tried a forward defensive shot but there
was a big gap between his pad and bat
and the ball sneaked through to hit the
middle stump. That was a big wicket for
the Tigers.
Warner’s dropped chances
Warner continued his brilliant run of
form in the Chittagong Test match after
his heroics in the Dhaka Test last week.
He was the anchor of Australia’s batting
as the visiting side finished the second
day with a strong reply of 225 for two.
Warner was unbeaten on 88 but he did
give two chances in his innings, which
were both missed, proving to be costly
for Bangladesh. The first chance came
in the last ball of the 39th over when
Taijul was bowling. It was tossed up,
on a length and outside off, spun and
bounced sharply towards Warner. He
tried to defend only to manage an edge.
But eventually Mominul Haque missed
it at short leg. Warner was batting on
52 then. The second chance came in
the 57th over off Mehedi Hasan Miraz’s
bowling. Warner danced down the track
and missed it as the ball kept low. Wicket-keeper
Mushfiqur Rahim failed to grab
the ball and Warner survived again. The
left-hander is on the verge of a hundred
and these two costly errors may pave the
way for the Tigers to be regretful.
Ali Shahriyar Bappa from Chittagong
Australia’s Peter Handscomb drives on way to his unbeaten half century
Lehmann praises gutsy Warner, Handscomb
• Ali Shahriyar Bappa from
Chittagong
Australia cricket team coach Darren
Lehmann praised the two unbeaten
batsmen David Warner and
Peter Handscomb for their unbeaten
third-wicket partnership
in hot and humid conditions and
admitted that they need to start
fresh today to build on their good
work from yesterday.
“It was a really gutsy performance,
obviously it’s pretty hot
out there, we saw that [yesterday]
and you have to work really hard
for your runs. So to get through
and the way they played was excellent.
They’re in the ice baths
now and we’ll leave them with the
medical team to get them right
for [today]. Very special day and
hopefully [today] they can kick
on. We’ve played well [yesterday]
but [today] is another day,” Lehman
told the media at the postday
press conference.
The wicket was a bit different
compared to the Dhaka Test as
there is not much turn and bounce
but Lehmann believes the ball will
turn as the game goes on, just like
typical sub-continent tracks.
“From the first Test, a totally
different wicket, but that’s not our
choice. That’s what Bangladesh
want to do, they’re well within
their right. I thought it would turn
more, no doubt. Obviously (they)
beat us on a pretty big turner in
the first Test but it’s played pretty
well so far. I think it’ll break
up and still turn as the game goes
on. It’s like more of a traditional
sub-continent wicket,” the bald
headed coach explained.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon bowled
superbly throughout the innings
and picked up seven wickets.
The coach is pleased with Lyon’s
consistency, particularly in
the sub-continent, and congratulated
him for overtaking Jason Gillespie
as one of Australia’s highest
MD MANIK
wicket-takers in Test.
“It was fantastic (Lyon’s bowling).
Obviously he’s just getting
better and better in these conditions.
Changing his variations and
growing and growing as a bowler.
Overtaking Jason Gillespie is a pretty
mean feat for a finger-spinner.
He’s really growing as a leader in
our pack, if you like, in these conditions.
He’s made subtle changes
- I think he said ‘bowl ugly’ - and
that’s what he’s been prepared to
(do). Fifty runs down and he put
the ball in good areas more often
than not so I’ve been really pleased
with his consistency and the way
he’s changed,” said Lehmann. •
Committee formed to investigate Australia bus incident
• Tribune Report
The BCB in a statement yesterday
said it is treating the Australia
cricket team bus incident with the
utmost of seriousness.
The board also informed that a
high-power committee has been
formed by the concerned security
agencies to investigate and find the
facts on the incident. The Aussies
had suffered a scare while travelling
back to their hotel from Zahur
Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in
Chittagong after the first day’s play
of the second and final Test match
on Monday against Bangladesh.
As per reports, a small pebble
is said to have been thrown at the
window of the Australia team bus,
causing minor damage.
No Australian player or any of
the support staff were injured in
the incident. The BCB has been in
constant communication with the
Australian management and as
added assurance, security measures
have been enhanced on the
travelling route of the teams.
According to the BCB, Australia
have “expressed their satisfaction and
comfort with the security operation
in place and appreciated the response
from the BCB and the local authorities
following Monday’s incident.”
It is understood that the BCB
had taken added measures immediately
after learning of the incident
on Monday.
The security convoy to the
field from hotel in Chittagong was
beefed up for both the teams.
Meanwhile, Chittagong Metropolitan
Police has formed a
three-member committee to probe
into the allegations of stone pelting
on the Australian team bus.
The committee is headed by
the CMP’s Deputy Commissioner
(west) Faruqul Haque.
Faruqul told the Dhaka Tribune
that they were asked to submit
the investigation report within the
shortest possible time.
“Allegations were raised that the
bus carrying Australia were pelted
with stone at Baro Quarter area under
the city’s Double-Mooring police
station on Monday night. The Australia
team were on their way back
to the hotel. The window pane of
the bus was found to have scratch.
We are hopeful of submitting the investigation
report within the stipulated
time,” said the police high-up,
adding that they have ensured foolproof
security for the visiting side.
On the other hand, Cricket Australia
security manager Sean Carroll
expressed satisfaction with the
security provided so far.
“Team security personnel are
currently in discussion with local
authorities while they investigate
the cause, which is believed to
have come from a small rock or
stone. Bangladesh authorities are
taking the incident seriously and
security has been increased on the
route,” said Carroll to an Australia-based
cricket website.
Regarding the issue, Australia
coach Darren Lehmann said, “We’ve
been well-informed. Startled when
it happened obviously but security’s
been unbelievable while we’ve been
here. Both security teams - ours and
Bangladesh’s - have been fantastic.
They talk us through these things
and we leave it to the security side
of things for that.”
The BCB was in a similar situation
during the 2011 World Cup
hosted jointly by Bangladesh, India
and Sri Lanka. Bus carrying the West
Indies players was stoned on its way
back to the team hotel in Dhaka.
There were no injuries and both
Bangladesh and the Windies squads
had safely reached the hotel. •