Nazmul's grand entrance and Akmal's accident
ESPNcricinfo presents Plays of the Day from the second day in Mirpur
Siddarth Ravindran
18-Dec-2011
Mushfiqur Rahim was involved in a mess up that cost Shakib Al Hasan his wicket and left him furious • AFP
The luck of the day
Elias Sunny had two close calls in one Umar Gul over. First he wanted to leave a delivery outside off, but was late lifting the bat, which resulted in him unintentionally sending the ball between slip and gully for four, prompting laughter from the batsman. Two balls later, he successfully let one go, but this time the ball scraped the outside of off stump, making a woody thump on its way to the keeper - luckily for him, the bails stayed on. He had only made 12, though, when his luck ran out. Saeed Ajmal slipped in a doosra, which he inside-edged onto the pads - the umpire missed the contact with the bat and ruled him lbw.
Elias Sunny had two close calls in one Umar Gul over. First he wanted to leave a delivery outside off, but was late lifting the bat, which resulted in him unintentionally sending the ball between slip and gully for four, prompting laughter from the batsman. Two balls later, he successfully let one go, but this time the ball scraped the outside of off stump, making a woody thump on its way to the keeper - luckily for him, the bails stayed on. He had only made 12, though, when his luck ran out. Saeed Ajmal slipped in a doosra, which he inside-edged onto the pads - the umpire missed the contact with the bat and ruled him lbw.
The injury of the day
Reece Young has already shown this month why a helmet is advisable when keeping to spinners. If there were still some unconvinced, a replay of Adnan Akmal's injury should end the debate. In the 104th over, Saeed Ajmal got a delivery to spit off the track, and it ricocheted off Sunny's pad straight to Akmal's mouth. Akmal was bleeding and in serious pain, and seemingly in serious need the services of a dentist. However, after some assistance from the physio, he bravely decided to play on, not even asking for the helmet. It was an unusually quiet spell from Akmal after that, with his regularly chirps of "yourself" and "well done, well done" missing.
Reece Young has already shown this month why a helmet is advisable when keeping to spinners. If there were still some unconvinced, a replay of Adnan Akmal's injury should end the debate. In the 104th over, Saeed Ajmal got a delivery to spit off the track, and it ricocheted off Sunny's pad straight to Akmal's mouth. Akmal was bleeding and in serious pain, and seemingly in serious need the services of a dentist. However, after some assistance from the physio, he bravely decided to play on, not even asking for the helmet. It was an unusually quiet spell from Akmal after that, with his regularly chirps of "yourself" and "well done, well done" missing.
The one-ball wonder of the day
The only Test Nazmul Hossain had played in before the current one was way back in 2004, when he had just turned 17. Seven years on, as he returned for his second Test, he was dismayed as his first contribution lasted only one delivery - run out for a duck. His first ball as a bowler was eventful as well, and it left him ecstatic, as he managed to induce the dangerous Mohammad Hafeez to nick a catch to the wicketkeeper.
The only Test Nazmul Hossain had played in before the current one was way back in 2004, when he had just turned 17. Seven years on, as he returned for his second Test, he was dismayed as his first contribution lasted only one delivery - run out for a duck. His first ball as a bowler was eventful as well, and it left him ecstatic, as he managed to induce the dangerous Mohammad Hafeez to nick a catch to the wicketkeeper.
The run-out of the day
With Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, two of Bangladesh's best batsmen, guiding the score to 305 for 5, Bangladesh could have realistically aimed at posting 400-plus for only the third time in Mirpur. Those hopes vanished though when a moment of misunderstanding left Shakib stranded, comfortably beaten by a Taufeeq Umar throw that rifled towards the bottom of middle stump. Mushfiqur called for the single, but after taking a few purposeful strides, to which Shakib responded enthusiastically, Mushfiqur changed his mind and decided to head back, resulting in a furious Shakib being run out on 144. The next four wickets could only add 33, and Bangladesh finished on a relatively modest 338.
With Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, two of Bangladesh's best batsmen, guiding the score to 305 for 5, Bangladesh could have realistically aimed at posting 400-plus for only the third time in Mirpur. Those hopes vanished though when a moment of misunderstanding left Shakib stranded, comfortably beaten by a Taufeeq Umar throw that rifled towards the bottom of middle stump. Mushfiqur called for the single, but after taking a few purposeful strides, to which Shakib responded enthusiastically, Mushfiqur changed his mind and decided to head back, resulting in a furious Shakib being run out on 144. The next four wickets could only add 33, and Bangladesh finished on a relatively modest 338.
Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo