& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Another chance slipping away

BISHWAJIT ROY
It would be premature to predict the result of a Test match after the third day but the outcome of yesterday's rain-free third day's play of the second and final Test at Mirpur has diminished Bangladesh's chances of realising the pre-match dream of winning a Test match against a higher-ranked side.
Instead, the conscientious batting effort from New Zealand, particularly the tailenders' valiant efforts, made it clear that the Tigers will have to come out with their best to save the match as well as the series.
Shakib Al Hasan had his tenth five-for as the left-arm spinner got two more wickets on the day but his wonderful success was overshadowed by the Kiwis' number six, seven and tenth batsmen. Corey Anderson hit his maiden hundred in his second appearance through a planned but aggressive batting display while BJ Watling carried on from his first Test hundred with an unbeaten 59 and, supported by the lucky Ish Sodhi who was not out on 55, guided the tourists to stumps with a healthy lead of 137 and two wickets in hand.
At the end Bangladesh must regret their poor batting in the first innings, especially with the New Zealand lower order demonstrating the meaning of purposeful batting, the lack of which cost Bangladesh a valuable opportunity.
But the Tigers had a brilliant start once the day's play commenced twenty minutes after scheduled time due to light rain, when Ross Taylor edged Shakib to Nasir Hossain at first slip in the fourth. Taylor walked back soon after completing his half-century in his 50th Test match and his departure seemed to give the Tigers control of the match as New Zealand were reduced to 127 for four from the overnight score of 107 for three with the spinners looking to get some assistance from the third-day pitch.
Kane Williamson and Anderson fought the visitors back brilliantly with calculated batting, especially against the spin. Shakib took the maximum load since his recovery from injury and created problems for the duo, but their 140-run fifth-wicket stand put their team in a strong position. Tamim's well-judged catch sent back Williamson for 62 and debutant pacer Al Amin Hossain brought the home team back with his maiden wicket, that of Anderson, who hit 116 off 173 balls with 13 fours and two sixes.
But New Zealand went from 287 for six to end the day on 419-8 thanks to Watling and Sodhi, who must thank Shohag Gazi, who dropped an easy return catch, and Tamim Iqbal who also missed a chance at long off. Their uneaten 84-run ninth-wicket stand once again exposed the Bangladesh bowling attack’s inability to wrap up the tail.
Anything can happen in cricket but it would be overly optimistic to expect a Bangladesh win from this position.
Bangladesh have only crossed the 400 mark once and 300 ten times in the second innings. As things stand, 400 is the minimum they would require both in terms of runs and the time they have to spend at the crease, so the odds are firmly stacked against the Tigers.