Sports

Tamim Iqbal misses ton as rain halts play

New Zealand restrict Bangladesh to 228 for five on day one of second Test.

Afp October 21, 2013

Opener Tamim Iqbal survived two dropped catches to hit an entertaining 95 as Bangladesh reached 228 for five before rain stopped play. PHOTO: AFP

DHAKA: Tamim Iqbal missed out on a century as New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to 228 for five on the first day of the second Test in Dhaka yesterday, before rain ended play early.

The dismissals of Tamim for 95 and Shakib al Hasan for 20 just before the tea break put the Black Caps on top, with bad weather preventing play in the final session.

“Yes, the momentum was with us, but we can’t control the weather,” said New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor.

“[The match] is probably still pretty evenly poised and the rain has given our fast-bowlers an extra break.

“When we do come out tomorrow [today] hopefully, weather permitting, we can strike early and get them seven, if not eight, down before the second new ball.”

Iqbal edged Neil Wagner to Kane Williamson at slip, before leg-spinner Ish Sodhi trapped Shakib leg-before.

Before the twin blows, Bangladesh had made steady progress after skipper Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Iqbal, who smashed 17 fours in his entertaining 153-ball knock, put on 76 with Mominul Haque (47) for the third wicket and 67 with Marshall Ayub (41) for the second.

Trent Boult gave New Zealand their first wicket when Anamul Haque (seven) miscued a pull shot and Williamson took the catch.

Ayub looked solid until Wagner, who replaced left-arm spinner Bruce Martin in New Zealand’s line-up from the drawn first Test, bowled him. Ayub struck six boundaries in his 62-ball innings.

Meanwhile, Corey Anderson ended Mominul’s innings by having him caught behind. Tamim prospered after surviving two dropped catches at the start of his innings.

Wicketkeeper Bradley-John Watling dropped the left-hander on five before skipper Brendon McCullum let him off at second slip at 10. Doug Bracewell was the unlucky bowler on both occasions.

Bangladesh made one change to their team that drew the first Test, bringing in uncapped paceman Al Amin Hossain for injured Robiul Islam.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2013.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.