England vs Bangladesh – Second Test Day One
England were left ruing what might have been towards the end of the first day’s play against Bangladesh in the second test at Old Trafford.
Andrew Strauss (21), Alastair Cook (29), Eoin Morgan (37) and Kevin Pietersen (64) all got starts but failed to capitalise on the ideal batting conditions. Pietersen, who was looking very dangerous at the crease, was the most guilty culprit. After hitting Bangladesh’s spinners to all corners of Old Trafford, racking up a half century in the process, Pietersen went for one big hit too many as he was stumped off the bowling Shakib al Hasan.
This isn’t the first time the 29-year-old has cheaply thrown away his wicket against spin bowling. He was vulnerable to left-arm spin on the tour to Bangladesh this winter and despite claiming to have worked on his mentality against the slower bowlers, he came a cropper once again.
Shafiul Islam had put Bangladesh in a prosperous position in the morning session. Islam struck twice in consecutive overs to dent’s England's hopes of domination against a team they lead 1-0 in this two-match series. Cruising to 44 without loss, Strauss and double centurion from the first Test Jonathon Trott fell victim to the fired up Islam.
Cook also went before lunch, leaving Pietersen and Ian Bell together in the middle, and they closed out the session without further losses.
Pietersen came out all guns blazing after lunch and raced to his half century, hitting seven fours and a six, before Al Hasan struck. The leg-spinner looped the ball into batsman and Pietersen took the bait as he awkwardly danced down the pitch but saw the ball turn away and beat the bat for wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to complete a routine stumping.
Eion Morgan was another England batsman to flourish in the beautiful conditions in Manchester before being brought undone by a wonderfully taken catch by Shahadat Hossain at backward point.
England needed someone to steady the ship and the reliable Bell answered the call as he brought up his 97-ball half-century.
At quarter past five, Bell and Matt Prior, who looks to be going well, were both unbeaten on 70 and 16 respectively.
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