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“It should spin a lot more from day three, so in that case it will be more difficult for both the teams to score and there is a good possibility for a result”
With heavy rain having intervened and ended play early on the first two days of the second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Mirpur, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan believes “if the next three days are played completely, there will be a result in this match”.
Bangladesh were bowled out quickly on day two, but Al Hasan removed New Zealand’s opening pair of Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton with just 32 runs on the board.
After a 69-run partnership between Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson, which ended when Williamson was struck on the side of the face by a short-pitched delivery from Rubel Hossain, Al Hasan came back into the attack and dismissed New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum for just 11 runs.
However, Al Hasan acknowledged that Bangladesh have to dismiss both Williamson and Taylor in order to get back into the game.
“We have to take the wickets of the two batsmen at the crease,” Al Hasan said. “They do have batsmen after this, but because one is the vice-captain and the other a senior player, it is very important to get their wickets as soon as possible.
“Everything is possible if we get them out early. Even 200 is a possibility. However if I speak realistically, then if we can keep them within 300, which is very much possible, it will be an evenly-matched contest.”
Al Hasan also revealed that the groundsman told him to expect a lot of turn over the next three days.
“I think if the next three days are played completely, there will be a result in this match,” he said. “I’ve head from the curator that the wicket will get more difficult as the day goes on. It should spin a lot more from day three, so in that case it will be more difficult for both the teams to score and there is a good possibility for a result.”
Al Hasan was also disappointed that Bangladesh’s batting line-up had crumbled so easily.
“There weren’t too many batsmen remaining after Mushfiq bhai and Nasir got out,” he said. “The lower order had arrived so it wasn’t possible to score too many runs. I didn’t see too much of a problem [with our score]. On this wicket, 300-350 is a good score.”