Australia v/s Bangladesh 1st Test: Tamim Iqbal half-century consolidates Bangladesh position

Tamim Iqbal celebrated his 50th test appearance with a second half-century of the match to help Bangladesh stretch their overall lead to 176 runs over Australia on day three of the first test on Tuesday.

After their spinners had run through the visitors to give them a handy 43-run first innings lead, Bangladesh batted themselves into a position of strength and were 133 for three wickets at lunch.

Tamim was batting on 76 at the break, a fluent knock that included eight boundaries, with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim on 25 at the other end after the pair put on 66 runs in a blossoming fourth-wicket partnership.

Having lost nine of their first innings wickets to spin — the other, Usman Khawaja, was run out — Australia face a herculean task of batting in the fourth innings on a worn-out track where some deliveries have been virtually unplayable.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon dismissed Taijul Islam with a skidding delivery to end the nightwatchman’s 22-ball vigil after Bangladesh resumed on 45-1 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

The bounce and turn that had tormented the Australian batsmen in their first innings led to the next wicket, when a Lyon delivery kicked up and took the shoulder of Imrul Kayes’ …read more