Daijiworld Media Network
Khulna, Nov 22: Yesterday was a historic day in the annals of Bangladesh cricket. They looked down and out as they slumped to 193/8 before Abul Hasan made his way to the middle at No. 10. He then went on to produce an innings of high standards, becoming only the first player since 1902 to score a century on debut batting at No. 10. He was well supported by Mahmudullah who remained unbeaten on 72 as the hosts wound up the day at 355/8. Will the knock from Abul Hasan inspire them to greater glory? Hello, and a warm welcome to one and all to Day 2.
Last session: 179 runs in just 32 overs. West Indies started the session well by getting a couple of wickets including Rahim, but what happened after that was something not many would have expected. Abul Hasan and Mahmudullah counter-attacked and wrested control of the game. The visitors were taken by surprise as boundaries flew from either end. Abul Hasan in particular was almost unstoppable; he backed himself and went after almost every bowler with success. Both batsmen survived drop catches (Powell being the culprit on both occasions) but made maximum use of their lives.
Day 1 - Brief report :
Khulna, Bangladesh: Abul Hasan became only the second man in 135 years of Test cricket to hit a debut hundred batting at No 10 on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old left-hander was unbeaten on 100 and added an invaluable 172 runs for the unfinished 10th wicket stand with Mohammad Mahmudullah (72) to help the home team recover from 193-8 to 365-8 at close on the opening day.
Hasan became an unlikely hero for the home fans as he turned spinner Sunil Narine for two to reach his century, matching the feat of Australian Reggie Duff, who scored 104 against England at Melbourne in 1902 while batting at 10.
Hasan, whose previous highest first class score was 61, batted with complete authority as he has so far hit 13 boundaries and three towering sixes off just 108-balls to completely overshadow a destructive 5-81 by paceman Fidel Edwards.
Edwards had pushed Bangladesh to the brink five minutes into the resumption after tea when he had captain Mushfiqur Rahim (38) and Sohag Gazi (nought) in one over before Hasan and Mahmudullah subdued the West Indians.
The pair has set a 10th-wicket record in all Bangladesh Tests, beating the 77-run stand between Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat Hossai, made against India at Chittagong in 2007 and is just 24 short of beating the world record for 10th-wicket stands in Test matches — the 195 set by South African pair Mark Boucher and Pat Symcox against Pakistan at Johannesburg in 1998.
West Indies were sloppy in the field, as Kieran Powell dropped Hasan when the batsman was on 42 and Mahmuddulah was floored by Darren Bravo when on 37 — both off a luckless left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and both proving costly.
Hasan made the most of the chance, hitting a four and a six off Darren Sammy to complete his half-century off just 55 balls and continued in the same vein in the last hour.
Mahmuddulah, a recognised batsman overshadowed by the newcomer, has so far hit nine fours in his 89-ball knock.
In the first session, West Indian captain Sammy had helped derail the home team by dismissing Shahriar Nafees (26) opener Tamim Iqbal (32) in quick succession after Bangladesh won the toss and batted.
But it was fellow paceman Edwards who further reduced the home team in the second over after lunch, removing first Test centurion Naeem Islam (16) and star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (17) in successive overs.
Bangladesh, who trail 0-1 in the series after losing the first Test by 77 runs in Dhaka, lost opener Nazimuddin in the third over of the innings for just four.
Iqbal and Nafees batted sensibly to add 59 for the second wicket but Sammy struck twice to give the West Indies the upper hand.
Nafees edged a wide delivery to the wicket-keeper while Iqbal was bowled off a sharp incoming delivery.
Edwards then took two wickets in his first over after tea break, with Rahim caught brilliantly by Ramdin and then trapped Gazi, but Hasan and Mahmudullah spoiled the good work in the end.