David Warner celebrates after scoring his 20th Test century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Australia opener David Warner continued to impress with the bat as he scored a brilliant 123 to give his side a 72-run lead at the end of a rain-affected third day against Bangladesh in Chittagong.
With his hundred, Warner became just the third Australian opener after Bob Simpson and Matthew Hayden to score two or more centuries in a Test series in Asia.
With heavy rain washing out the entire first session, Australia finally began the day on 225/2, but only added 25 runs to their overnight score before Peter Handscomb was run out by Shakib Al Hasan for 82, which came off 144 balls and included six boundaries.
Warner and Glenn Maxwell made up for the loss of Handscomb with a 48-run partnership before Warner was caught by Imrul Kayes at leg gully off the bowling of Mustafizur Rahman for 123, which came off 234 deliveries and included seven boundaries.
Hilton Cartwright, who was not part of Australia’s squad for the first Test in Dhaka, mustered 18 runs before falling to Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade continued to struggle with the bat as he only made eight runs before being trapped lbw off the bowling of Mustafizur.
Wade has now passed the 50-run mark on one occasion in his last 19 innings and has surpassed 20 runs only five times in 17 innings in Asia.
Maxwell ended up making a hard-fought 38 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Mehidy, while Pat Cummins was given out lbw for four runs.
Ashton Agar put up a bit of a fight as he scored a 35-ball 22 before being clean bowled by Shakib right at the end of the day.
Steve O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon ensured Australia did not get bowled out as they amassed an unbeaten one-run partnership before stumps was called.
O’Keefe finished on eight off 28 balls, which included a solitary boundary, while Lyon has yet to get off the mark.
Mehidy and Mustafizur picked up three wickets apiece, while Shakib and Taijul Islam claimed one wicket each.
Australia ended day three on 377/9 and will continue batting on Thursday at 10:00 local time or 04:00 GMT.