Can Bangladesh be a Cakewalk for English Side???
With a disciplined and diligent performance Bangladeshi bowlers rose to the occasion on the first day at Old Trafford, following the example of their batsmen at Lord's last week. The efforts of bowlers were backed up by excellent fielding. The underdogs refused England the chance to set up a sort of platform from which they were able to lead the first Test. Ian Bell’s another well-timed innings from his rewarding berth in the middle order helped England to finish the day one with their nose in front on 275-5.
However on a stiff and true surface, and the finest batting conditions of the summer up till now, this was far away from the breeze that had been expected when Andrew Strauss after winning the toss; decided to bat.
Bad light resulted in an early close. By the end of the first day, Bell was 87 not out from 171 balls, 13 runs away from his third century against Bangladesh in six Tests.
Like his 138 at Dhaka back in March, however, this was a crucial innings that contradicted his fading reputation for soft runs, and without it, England could well have been in some trouble. After their wallowing performance with the ball at Lord's, Bangladesh had decided to remove their seam attack, with Rubel Hossain and Robiul Islam both axed from the second test squad, introducing the impressive Shafiul Islam into the fray, who struck twice in a penetrating new-ball spell in the very first hour of the game. Another entry was the left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who sacked Alastair Cook with his first ball of the test series.
Bangladesh, with the sun on its back, had a more recognizable spin, dominant line-up. They settled into the same sort of rhythm that they had shown in their home series in March. The wicket offered an additional bonus with the turn and bounce that they had never seen in Dhaka or Chittagong.
With Razzak and Shakib Al Hasan bowling in a fine spell in tandem after tea, Strauss’s side was limited to just 29 runs in 16 overs. But soon Matt Prior, with a brace of fours to Razzak, opened the floodgates. In the meanwhile Junaid Siddique dropped a catch of Prior in the slip reacting late to a thick edge.
Prior, then on 18 survived a close lbw appeal that might as well have been inverted; if the review system had been in place for this match. But Prior stayed on the pitch and was 21 not out at the close.
On the whole, it was not the score line that the English side had expected, but the credit goes to the Bangladeshi’s, they used their resources smartly, and kept all the opposing batsman presume as they strike the bat on both sides of the wicket. Kevin Pietersen discovered this to his cost, as he was given a treat by his arch-rival in Tests, Shakib, taking his wicket for the fourth time in as many matches, to bring a lurid end to an aggressive and entertaining innings.
Pietersen seemed in a rush to pile up his first century against these opponents. Shakib, on the other hand, was the same to his ambitions. After drilling for four through the covers, Pietersen got stumped Mushfiqur Rahim.
Shakib could have earned another wicket in an excellent attacking spell when Ian Bell was dropped by Rahim, the only opportunity offered by Bell in a disciplined 171-ball innings.
Eoin Morgan, in the fifth over after tea, also offered a real chance but was unfortunate of him that Jahurul Islam clung on his confined cut at Shahadat in the gully. It was a one-handed attempt with an excellent dive to his right.
The key performer in the morning session had been Shafiul, who was ignored for the Lord's Test in spite of showing glimpses of his capability in the home series against England earlier this year.
He kept the left-handers Alastair Cook and Strauss on their toes by occasionally changing his line from over to round the wicket.
His efforts paid off in the 12th over of the day, as Strauss surrendered to an outstanding rising delivery slanting across his bows, touching the edge flew hard and fast to Kayes at second slip. Six balls later, Shafiul earned his second wicket, with Trott falling victim to a brilliant bustling delivery hitting top of the middle stump. Trott seemed shocked at the dismissal.
With Shafiul struggling with the cramp, Bangladesh's efficiency was scratched in the afternoon session, but their intent was undimmed, and by the end of the first day they were very much in the game.
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