A historical maiden ton by Abul Hasan lifts Bangladesh – 2nd Test vs. West Indies

Bangladesh 8-365 (Abul Hasan 100*, Mahmudullah 72*, Nasir Hossain 52, Fidel Edward 5-81) vs. West Indies

The young gun of Bangladesh, Abul Hasan, added another chapter in Test history while becoming the only second cricketer to plunder a ton on his debut at No. 10.

The 20-year-old came in the centre when the home team was struggling for 8-193 vs. West Indies. He changed the complexion of the game with his onslaught against the lethal bowling of the Windies by thrashing a maiden ton in his very first Test.

Reggie Duff of Australia was the only Test batsman who had smashed a ton while batting at No.10. He created that record in the 2nd Test vs. England on January 1, 1902, at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The right hand batsman and right arm medium fast bowler scored 32 runs in the first innings of the Kangaroos followed by 104 in the second as the home side clinched the match by a huge margin of 229 runs. Duff was born on August 17, 1878, in Sydney, played 22 Tests for Australia and died on December 13, 1911, in his hometown at the tender age of just 33 years and 118 days.

Abul Hasan - Revival of history after 110 years
Abul Hasan – Revival of history after 110 years

Bangladesh piled up 365 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 86 overs at a healthy average of 4.24 runs per over.

The second and the final Test of the series commenced on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at Sheihk Abu Nasir Stadium, Khulna.

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain of Bangladesh, won the toss and sent his batsmen in to bat first. The first wicket fell early for just five runs when Shahriar Nafees got together with Tamim Iqbal. The batsmen opted to attack, went for their shots and Tamim Iqbal hit two fours in the fifth over. The bowlers controlled the pace of scoring in between before Shahriar Nafees added a couple of fours in the 12th over. The pair took the score to 64 as Shahriar Nafees was caught behind by the wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off Darren Sammy for 26 runs. Tamim Iqbal was clean bowled by Sammy for 32 after the addition of 13 runs in the total.

The next two wickets fell without much resistance and the Bengal Tigers were struggling at 5-98 in 29.2 overs. Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain joined together at the wicket and started the consolidation process while sending the ball out of the rope at regular intervals. Nasir Hossain was the most aggressive of the two and hit 4 fours in the 42nd and the next over. He added another 12 runs three overs later and completed his third Test fifty in the 49th over assisted with a four as Mushfiqur Rahim continued compiling runs from the other end.

The sixth wicket partnership contributed 87 runs and enhanced the score to 185 when Nasir Hossain was gone for 52 off 68 balls with 1 six and 8 fours. Mushfiqur Rahim went back to the pavilion for 38 and the eighth wicket scrambled at 193 when the youngster Abul Hasan entered the Test arena for the first time and associated with Mahmudullah. Abul Hasan survived three rising deliveries off Fidel Edwards in the 58th over, opened his account with three runs on the next ball and the second hundred of the innings also appeared on board.

Abul Hasan had some other ideas and scored two consecutive fours in the 60th over as Mahmudullah also adapted the offensive approach. The boundaries started showering from the blades of the two batsmen and the strong bowling attack of the Carribeans looked ordinary. Abul Hasan dispatched his first six in the 67th over and was dropped at short leg on the third ball of the 69th over off Veerasammy Permaul at 42 runs. He attained his fifty in the 70th over with 1 six and 1 four as Mahmudulla got a life at 37 off Permaul again by the short leg fielder three overs later.

Abul Hasan punished Marlon Samuels for 3 fours in the next over and the third hundred of the innings was displayed on board. Mahmudullah achieved his 6th Test half century off 70 deliveries in the 79th over. Abul Hasan carried on with his thundering knock and revived history after almost 110 years by hammering his first Test ton as a No. 10 batsman on the fourth ball of the 86th over. He became the only second number 10 batsman after Reggie Duff to thrash a ton in the maiden Test.

Bangladesh amassed 365 runs with two brave batsmen still at the crease and a lot to come from their willows yet. Abul Hasan was unbeaten for 100 off just 108 balls with 3 lofty sixes and 13 fours as Mahmudullah secured his end with a watchful 72 from 89 with 9 fours.

Fidel Edwards was the most successful bowler with five wickets, Darren Sammy held two and Veerasammy Permaul claimed one wicket.

The unbeaten 172 runs partnership for the ninth wicket between Mahmudullah and Abul Hasan was the highest for Bangladesh and has placed them in a comfortable position in the second Test.


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