Two let-offs, different outcomes
Plays of the Day from the second day of the Chittagong Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand
Mohammad Isam in Chittagong
10-Oct-2013
Sohag Gazi sneaked one between Doug Bracewell's bat and pad • AFP
The let-off I
Bangladesh were on a roll in the morning session when it got even better. Rubel Hossain had BJ Watling driving, and the ball caught the edge and flew to gully where Nasir Hossain took the catch. New Zealand would have been 290 for 8, when the umpires went to check for a front-foot no-ball. The replays showed a big one. Watling came back, and took his score from 4 to 103.
Bangladesh were on a roll in the morning session when it got even better. Rubel Hossain had BJ Watling driving, and the ball caught the edge and flew to gully where Nasir Hossain took the catch. New Zealand would have been 290 for 8, when the umpires went to check for a front-foot no-ball. The replays showed a big one. Watling came back, and took his score from 4 to 103.
The let-off II
Anamul Haque was also as lucky as Watling to be caught in the slips off a no-ball. The offending bowler was Doug Bracewell in the second over of the Bangladesh innings. But unlike Watling, Anamul didn't make it count. He had the let-off on 1, and added two more before falling to the same bowler.
Anamul Haque was also as lucky as Watling to be caught in the slips off a no-ball. The offending bowler was Doug Bracewell in the second over of the Bangladesh innings. But unlike Watling, Anamul didn't make it count. He had the let-off on 1, and added two more before falling to the same bowler.
The gap
There was just a small gap between Doug Bracewell's bat and pad as he tried to paddle the ball. But Sohag Gazi somehow found the opening through it to hit the stumps. The much-needed wicket amused the bowler, who kept pointing at the gap as he walked towards the other fielders to celebrate. He was finding it hard to believe that the ball had actually sneaked through.
There was just a small gap between Doug Bracewell's bat and pad as he tried to paddle the ball. But Sohag Gazi somehow found the opening through it to hit the stumps. The much-needed wicket amused the bowler, who kept pointing at the gap as he walked towards the other fielders to celebrate. He was finding it hard to believe that the ball had actually sneaked through.
The comeback
No 11 Trent Boult batted two hours and 27 minutes to make an unbeaten fifty, so his first-ball wide to Tamim Iqbal was perhaps fatigue. The recovery was complete off the next ball when he pitched one just a little away from Tamim's reach, outside off stump. The drive came out, and the edge was well caught at slip.
No 11 Trent Boult batted two hours and 27 minutes to make an unbeaten fifty, so his first-ball wide to Tamim Iqbal was perhaps fatigue. The recovery was complete off the next ball when he pitched one just a little away from Tamim's reach, outside off stump. The drive came out, and the edge was well caught at slip.
The elbow
Boult, like any No 11, had little to lose. As he settled down, he looked to play more shots and started attacking Bangladesh's most successful Test bowler. Shakib Al Hasan was smashed for six over long-on, with the bat perfectly pointed towards the direction he intended to hit. Boult charged the left-arm spinner, moved slightly to the leg side to make room and lofted the ball high. The elbow was right up there, perfectly balanced.
Boult, like any No 11, had little to lose. As he settled down, he looked to play more shots and started attacking Bangladesh's most successful Test bowler. Shakib Al Hasan was smashed for six over long-on, with the bat perfectly pointed towards the direction he intended to hit. Boult charged the left-arm spinner, moved slightly to the leg side to make room and lofted the ball high. The elbow was right up there, perfectly balanced.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. He tweets here