Chittagong: David Warner (123, 234b, 7×4) hit his second hundred in a row before Bangladesh fought back with quick strikes on a rain-hit third day of the second Test against Australia here Wednesday.
The visitors were 377-9 when bad light stopped play with 13 overs remaining after rain washed out the entire first session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here. They now have a healthy lead of 72 runs as Bangladesh had scored 305 in their first essay.
Mustafizur Rahman (3/84) and Mehedi Hasan (3/93) bowled well to bring Bangladesh back into the contest after Warner and Peter Handscomb (82, 144b, 6×4) put on 152 runs for the third wicket.
Warner showed remarkable patience during his uncharacteristically sedate knock. It was his 20th Test century. He was dismissed by left-arm paceman Mustafizur, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday.
The century saw Warner join a select group of 12 Australian cricketers who have scored 20 or more Test tons, with his skipper Steve Smith the most recent to achieve the feat.
Warner, who resumed the day on 88, received good support from Handscomb, who was run out by a sharp throw from Shakib Al Hasan at mid-wicket.
Handscomb responded to a call for a single that would have completed Warner’s century but was sent back from halfway down the pitch.
Bangladesh were then frustrated as Mehedi dropped Glenn Maxwell (38, 98b, 3×4) on 10 at gully off Mustafizur.
Mehedi also put down Hilton Cartwright off his own bowling on six, before making amends by having the same batsman caught at slip by Soumya Sarkar for 18 on the stroke of tea.
He then removed Maxwell and Pat Cummins (four) after the break and Shakib bowled Ashton Agar for his only wicket in the day.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 305; Australia 377 for nine (David Warner 123, Peter Handscomb 82, Mustafizur Rahman 3/84, Mehedi Hasan 3/93). Match to continue.
