BanglaCricket Article

What could have been a great reply in the second innings, turned into a complete chaos as another familiar collapse saw 3 wickets fall for 3 runs within 7 balls - this, with only 5 overs left in the day. So much for putting a price on every wicket. The visitors limped to 106 for 4 after 35 overs at close of play with Sanwar (6) and Kapali (10) keeping the faint hope alive.

Match Scorecard

Bangladesh were going along smoothly towards to close of play with Sumon and Hannan enjoying the batting friendly wicket. Hannan was the first to go. After completing his back to back fifty against the Aussies, Hannan went for an ill-attempted skier with only 6 overs to go for the day. Before his life ended (Hannan c Hayden b MacGill 55-104b 8x4), Hannan posted his third 50+ partnership in a row with Sumon. This time, they recovered the team from 12 for 1 to 87 for 1. The 75 run partnership follows a 108 runs in the first innings and 81 runs in the second innings of the first test.

What followed was another familiar collapse with Ash getting his pair (another lbw, or was it a catch to Lehmann at silly point?) and Sumon simply giving in to the inevitable. One thinks, Pilot could have been a better option than Ashraful with only six overs to go and when keeping the wickets were of utmost importance. But the truth is, out batsmen have made it a habit and without a collapse, none of our innings would be complete.

From 87 for 1, the team sunk to 90 for 4. But first innings hero Sanwar and Alok 'I got to prove myself' Kapali spent some anxious moments before stumps were called. With the score reading 106 for 4, Bangladesh still has to score 15 runs to avoid an innings defeat and there isn't much of a fight left in the remainder of the batsmen. Only some determined half centuries from the likes of Sanwar, Pilot and Kapali can stop an innings defeat.

Earlier, Steve Waugh and Martin Love both scored unbeaten centuries to allow the host a commendable 261 runs lead. Waugh scored his 32nd career hundred to post 156 not out and declared the innings as soon as Love reached his maiden hundred (100*). They took the score to 556 for 4 declared. Lehmaan added 21 runs to his overnight score to reach 177.