Day 2: Aust vs Bang

Despite Bangladesh's solid resistance on Day 1, Australia have batted their way into a commanding position thanks to a double century stand between Darren Lehmann and Steve Waugh.

Resuming day 2 at 289/8, Bangladesh lost the remaining two wickets for the addition of just 6 runs, with Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie snaring a wicket each.

The tourists snared Justin Langer (1) early virtue of the impressive Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to leave the home side at 1/14 early on.

Despite both batsmen being far from their best, Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting came together and built a solid partnership of 91.

Hayden was the first of the pair to fall, bowled around his legs from an incredible Sanwar Hossain off-break after making exactly 50 in good time.

Sanwar snared the third and final Australian wicket of the day soon later when he had Ricky Ponting caught on the long on boundary by Mohammad Ashraful. The vice-captain made a scratchy 59.

The in-form pair from Darwin of Darren Lehmann and Steve Waugh then made short work of the attack for the remainder of the day; with Lehmann snaring his second century in as many attempts this series to see his Test average creep towards 50.

He is undefeated on 156 from just 187 balls with an excellent strike-rate of just above 80.

Waugh, meanwhile, consolidated on his career average of 50 with a typical 74.

Despite some solid bowling with the new ball, the pair where able to see out the day and let embattled Martin Love off the hook - for now. The partnership currently stands at 219.

For the Tigers, Sanwar finished the day with 2/80 while Mashrafe snared 1/37. While Tapash Baisya and Anwar Hossain went wicket less, both bowled handy spells for captain Khaled Mahmud.

Scores:

Bangladesh 295 (Hannan Sarkar 76, Habibul Bashar 46, Sanwar Hossain 46, Khaled Mashud 44, S MacGill 5/77, J Gillespie 3/57)

Australia 351/3 (D Lehmann 156*, S Waugh 74*, R Ponting 59, M Hayden 50, Sanwar Hossain 2/80)

Stumps Day 2.

Posted by Andre