Tigers stun young fans in Mirpur with unwanted records

Sports fans across Bangladesh, who enjoyed an exhilarating night of football yesterday as the dramatic conclusion of the English Premier League culminated, woke up in the morning today- only to witness a horrendous batting performance from the Bangladesh cricket team.

Moreover, the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today has drawn in many school-going young fans who would, however, be thoroughly disappointed upon seeing how their team have started proceedings as the second and series-deciding Test got underway with the hosts electing to bat first.

Bangladesh, who had lost the first five wickets for 385 in the previous match, on their way to a handsome 465 in their first innings in Chattogram, miserably collapsed from the onset of the opening session in the face of excellent swing bowling from the visitors.

Aside from witnessing the shambolic batting from the Tigers, spectators got to witness Bangladesh establish a few records, however unwanted.

The first record popped up when last Test's centurion Tamim Iqbal got a leading edge off an Asitha Fernando delivery to reach the safe hands of Praveen Jayawickrama at point. Tamim got out for a duck and the left-hander only added to his tally, something he would not be proud of, to say the least.    

Tamim on his way to dismissal. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

It is only the third time that Bangladesh have lost both openers for duck in a Test innings and unfortunately, all three instances involve Mirpur and Tamim as the common denominators. Imrul Kayes (in 2010 against India) and Shamsur Rahman (in 2014 against Zimbabwe) were Tamim's partners on the previous occasions.

In the previous over, the first of the match, before Tamim's removal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who combined to a 162-run opening stand in the Chattogram Test, brought his downfall with no feet-movement as Kasun Rajitha, who picked a four-fer in Chattogram, clean bowled the youngster with an in-swinger, pitched on a good length.

Joy gets bowled. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

After Najmul Hossain Shanto and captain Mominul Haque, another batting stalwart Shakib Al Hasan was dismissed for duck as Bangladesh crumbled to 24 for five after seven overs. Now, this happens to be the first instance in nearly seven years that a team managed to lose first five wickets inside seven overs.

Mominum Haque walks back to dressing room. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Last time it happened was when Australia batted against England in Nottingham in 2015, a famous Test where Australia were bowled out for 60 and Stuart Broad took eight wickets in an innings.

Furthermore, this is the first time in 12 years that the first five wickets have fallen before Lunch in Mirpur on day one of a Test match. The last time it happened was in 2010 when Bangladesh scored 84 for five against India.