Mackay, Aug 22 (IANS) Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam believes his team are still firmly in the second Test despite a difficult opening day against Australia, insisting that their chance to turn the contest around will come when they bowl again.
Shoriful was the standout performer for Bangladesh on Saturday, claiming 6-35 as Australia reached 165/8 at stumps on Day 1 after bowling the visitors out for just 64 earlier in the day.
“The message in the dressing room was that the game is far from over and our turn to bowl is coming up. We are still well in the game. InshaAllah, we will try to make sure the entire second innings belongs to us,” Shoriful said after the day’s play, as quoted by The Daily Star.
Australia had earlier been in complete control after Mitchell Starc produced a devastating opening spell, taking five wickets in just 22 deliveries before finishing with figures of 6/12. Pat Cummins claimed three wickets, and Josh Hazlewood one as Bangladesh were dismissed in only 34 overs.
However, Bangladesh hit back through Shoriful, who produced an equally impressive spell with the ball. His six-wicket haul included a five-for that was the second-fastest by a Bangladesh bowler in Test cricket.
The left-arm pacer also became the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh on the day, while his contribution with the bat was limited to 14 runs as he top-scored for his side.
Shoriful said his personal achievement of claiming his first five-wicket haul was pleasing, but insisted that a Bangladesh victory would mean far more.
“Alhamdulillah, everyone feels good getting their first five-for. But I’ll feel best if we win the match, because we lost that previous one. I’m not overthinking or excessively celebrating just because I got five wickets. If we win the match, I’ll be very happy,” he said.
Bangladesh had Australia reeling at 41/3 before Steve Smith and Cameron Green combined for a 77-run partnership off 112 balls.
Shoriful eventually broke the stand by trapping Smith LBW, before Bangladesh struck four more times in a space of just 14 balls to reduce Australia to 148/8.
Green and Nathan Lyon then steadied the hosts, putting together an unbeaten 17-run partnership to take Australia to 165/8 at the close.
Despite Bangladesh’s batting collapse, Shoriful said Australia had also struggled against the moving ball and backed his teammates to respond in their second innings.
“It was just a bad day for us. Not just for us. Look at them, they are struggling too. Insha’Allah, we will bounce back strongly in the next innings,” he said.
The 25-year-old also explained how the conditions at Mackay helped the fast bowlers, with the wind adding to the movement available with the new ball.
“We were bowling from that end where the wind was against us, which helped the ball swing a bit more. With the new ball, it was consistently swinging for quite a long time, around 15 to 20 overs. They capitalised on that advantage. In the next innings, our batters will try to cover that up,” he said.
Australia, who trail 1-0 in the two-match series after Bangladesh’s historic win in Darwin, currently hold a 101-run lead with two wickets remaining on a surface that has offered significant assistance to the fast bowlers.
–IANS
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