'Bounce and movement? Is this Mirpur?'

"Is that extra bounce in Mirpur?"

Even well-trained eyes were deceived and one could be forgiven for thinking that they needed a good rub to banish the afternoon slumber.

The drifting clouds at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur saw slightly overcast conditions in intervals between sunny proceedings during the second day's play of the National Cricket League (NCL) match between Chattogram and Rangpur Division yesterday.

As Test openers Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudul Hasan Joy came out to bat for Chattogram's second innings, they knew they would be tested after having been bundled out for 126 in the first innings.

Rangpur pacers Mukidul Islam Mugdho and Mushfik Hasan certainly tested the duo in that first spell. A few flashy shots often did not meet the bat and the extra bounce on the surface was having its say. So were the Duke balls -- used for the first time in Bangladesh -- kicking from the surface.

Tamim went on to middle some of his trademark shots with the fast outfield helping his cause. But despite those boundaries, the left-hander was not quite comfortable during his knock.

Once Joy departed to a cover drive off Mugdho for 14-ball seven, the challenge on the surface continued despite overcast conditions giving way to a sunny afternoon.

After an initial nine-over spell from Mugdho and Mushfiq, Rangpur operated with medium pacers Alauddin and Abdullah Al Mamun. And it was the former who got some extra bounce that led to Tamim's downfall, dismissed trying to glance a delivery that went to wicketkeeper Akbar Ali.

Mominul Haque would be the next to face the music as Rangpur kept operating with pace from both ends.

More importantly, the pace and movement on offer led to four fielders positioned in the slip cordon for almost the whole of the Chattogram innings on Day Two.

The lacquer on the Duke balls persist over longer periods and pacers were pitching it full, egged on by the movement they were getting. The balls mostly left batters at waist height, giving head to extraordinary conditions at Mirpur, which has historically seen slow carry and deliveries stopping after landing.

One delivery from Mamun clipped Mominul's bat as it just moved away a shade after pitching and the former Bangladesh skipper departed to a 37-ball 22, bringing Chattogram skipper Irfan Shukkur to the crease. Shamim Hossain fell after a delivery rose sharply while he played the cut shot. He later indicated the extra bounce had done the trick.

Irfan tried to counter the movement by going far out of his crease for a couple of deliveries and his unbeaten 48-ball 50 helped Chattogram to 126 for six when the bails were drawn for the day, leading by 30 runs.

Only one over of spin was bowled as Nasir Hossain took over for the final over of the day.

One player, who has been playing in the NCL for a long time, said after the day's proceedings: "It's the kind of wicket we need here. Quite hard (surface) and the Duke ball too is used elsewhere," he noted on the prominent seam of the Duke balls. Another player, recently playing in the NCL, told this reporter: "It's a good wicket although couldn't bat for too long."

The players appeared happy with the challenge that faced them, a sign of good things amidst the gloomy national team performances in the T20 World Cup endeavor. Talking to a BCB official involved with the NCL heavily, the reporter was told that these kinds of wickets are being demanded now. "The surface is hard and we have left grass on it which helps extra bounce too."

Asked if the Duke ball was having its say, he concurred and said: "Yes. They are going with pace throughout, that's an indication."

With India coming to tour Bangladesh in December, such surfaces will train batters for faster hands and see more bowlers with ability to impact games. This will help develop Test cricket mentality not just for the India series but for the future as a whole.