A day of unusual catches
Plays of the day from the fifth day of the first Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Chittagong
Mohammad Isam in Chittagong
13-Oct-2013
Shakib Al Hasan's catch led to wild celebrations of Sohag Gazi's hat-trick • AFP
The smash and grab
Ross Taylor gave Bangladesh two chances in the first session. The first fell close to Marshall Ayub at silly point; the next one was a jab that was near Marshall again but he grabbed at the grass at short leg. Mushfiqur Rahim replaced Marshall, who was rising too soon at short leg, with Anamul Haque, a wicketkeeper by trade. And soon enough Kane Williamson's full-blooded pull lodged between Anamul's thighs, and he managed to hold on to the ball.
Ross Taylor gave Bangladesh two chances in the first session. The first fell close to Marshall Ayub at silly point; the next one was a jab that was near Marshall again but he grabbed at the grass at short leg. Mushfiqur Rahim replaced Marshall, who was rising too soon at short leg, with Anamul Haque, a wicketkeeper by trade. And soon enough Kane Williamson's full-blooded pull lodged between Anamul's thighs, and he managed to hold on to the ball.
The reaction
Sohag Gazi was the bowler that Anamul caught Williamson off. First, Gazi could not believe he had a wicket, and then he had his hand on his mouth as he ran to greet Anamul. His first concern was Anamul and whether he had been injured. There was a lot of laughter in the huddle that followed the catch, and most players had a concerned look for the catcher.
Sohag Gazi was the bowler that Anamul caught Williamson off. First, Gazi could not believe he had a wicket, and then he had his hand on his mouth as he ran to greet Anamul. His first concern was Anamul and whether he had been injured. There was a lot of laughter in the huddle that followed the catch, and most players had a concerned look for the catcher.
The recovery
Gazi was bowling dangerously on the fifth morning, and his best delivery took the second wicket of his hat-trick. BJ Watling, the first-innings centurion, was bowled a doosra that jumped off a fuller length. The thin edge first hit Mushfiqur Rahim's gloves but he withstood the pain to take the rebound, before stooping to the ground in pain.
Gazi was bowling dangerously on the fifth morning, and his best delivery took the second wicket of his hat-trick. BJ Watling, the first-innings centurion, was bowled a doosra that jumped off a fuller length. The thin edge first hit Mushfiqur Rahim's gloves but he withstood the pain to take the rebound, before stooping to the ground in pain.
The catch Shakib Al Hasan doesn't stay out of the game for too long. He was at leg slip when Gazi bowled the hat-trick ball. As the ball clipped Doug Bracewell's outside edge, struck Mushfiqur on his boot and popped up, Shakib flung himself before the lone slip could even react. The dive got him to the ball, which he caught one-handed to trigger massive celebrations.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. He tweets here