SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017 Rookies lift B’desh, Southee takes five CHRISTCHURCH: Rookie opener Soumya Sarkar led a makeshift Bangladesh to a competitive 289 but New Zealand claimed the honors on day one of the second Test in Christchurch yesterday. “If you can bowl a side out on day one it’s a good effort,” New Zealand strike bowler Tim Southee said after taking his sixth five-wicket haul. But, despite remov- ing two of the more experienced Bangladesh batsmen in the first 11 overs, it took New Zealand until the last over to end the innings of an injury-hit side with seven players having three or fewer Tests to their name. “We were pretty good at the start then they got a bit of a partnership going,” Southee said. “We knew if we could hang in our areas for a long period of time then it was our best chance of taking wickets. So once we got that right we looked more effective.” After being put into bat on a standard New Zealand green surface, Bangladesh were ready to punish any- thing short or wide on a pitch which offered swing but not extreme pace. Their willingness to search for runs resulted in early casualties when senior batsmen Tamin Iqbal (five) and Mahmudullah (19) were removed inside 11 overs to be 38-2. Shakib Al Hasan mounted a sterling fightback producing a rapid 127 with Soumya who celebrated his return to Test crick- et and maiden innings as an opener with 86 off 104 balls. In his previous three Tests in 2015, Soumya had batted at six or seven with a best score of 37, yet he felt he could have done better as an opener against New Zealand. “I am not satisfied with my effort,” he said. “The focus was on playing a big innings in my first time as a Test opener. It was a big opportunity for me so if I had made a bigger contri- bution, I would have felt better. “Shakib and I tried to lengthen the innings after two early wickets. After I got out we lost two more wickets which put us on the back-foot. If we had han- dled that period better, we could have been in a better posi- tion.” Soumya’s recall and elevation to opener came as injuries kept Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mominul Haque, and a combined 98 Tests worth of experience, out of the match. In their place were Soumya for his fourth Test and debutants Nurul Hasan and 18-year-old Nazmul Hossain with the fledg- ling trio all featuring well in the innings. Soumya brought up his 50 driving Colin de Grandhomme to the boundary and had CUTTACK: India’s Mahindra Singh Dhoni (R) raises his bat after completing his half century as India’s YuvrajSingh (L) a life on 52 when dropped off the same bowler in the first of looks on during the second One Day International cricket match between India and England at the Barabati Stadium four missed chances by New Zealand. — AFP Inquiry into Big Bash Yuvraj, Dhoni blitz TV’s live tactical talk SYDNEY: Cricket Australia was investigating yesterday on- clinches ODI series air comments by a television commentator after he appeared to pass on tactical advice to a player during a Twenty20 Big Bash League match. Network Ten commen- CUTTACK: Comeback man Yuvraj Singh rated the 150 against hit 10 fours and 6 sixes. Yuvraj was caught behind off Chris tator Mark Howard told Adelaide Strikers captain Brad England as his best knock after he combined forces with Woakes, who ended up with four wickets, while Dhoni fell to Hodge during Wednesday’s game that bowler Ben Mahendra Singh Dhoni to set up India’s series clinching 15- Liam Plunkett but their departure was scant consolation to the Laughlin had previously been successful against Sydney run win in Cuttack on Thursday. The 35-year-old Yuvraj and England bowlers who were all carted around the park. “Two of Thunder batsman Shane Watson. former captain Dhoni (134) put on 256 runs for the fourth the greats stepping up as they have done so many times for “Our master statistician Lawrie Colliver tells us Laughlin wicket to help India post a mammoth 381-6 after being put Indian cricket,” said skipper Virat Kohli, who got out cheaply has got Watson twice in the last eight balls he’s bowled him into bat. for eight. “That’s what we envisioned when we got Yuvraj in this competition,” Howard told Hodge, who was wearing The hosts restricted England to 366-8 despite a breathtak- back in the side, that if these two bat together it’s going to do an on-field microphone. “I’ll leave that with you skipper,” ing century by skipper Eoin Morgan, who smashed 102 off 81 wonders for the team.” Howard said during the live broadcast, to which Hodge balls. India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match replied: “I’ll bring him on next over then... Let’s get him into series. But the day belonged to Yuvraj and Dhoni, who turned Morgan power the game. Next over bud.” back the clock during their epic partnership that came after But it was not all that smooth for India as Morgan gave the Laughlin was then brought into the attack for the next India were reduced to 25 for three at Cuttack’s Barabati home team a scare with his powerpacked innings which kept over. “Very naughty. Very, very naughty, Howie,” said ex- Stadium. The left-handed Yuvraj, who is making a comeback the crowd on its feet. With England requiring 46 off the final England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who was in the com- in the ODI side after a gap of three years, surpassed his previ- three overs the visitors stood an outside chance but Morgan’s mentators’ box with Howard. Cricket Australia said they ous best of 139. unfortunate run out in the penultimate over ended their were “disappointed with the comments... and expressed “Probably the best (knock)...The higher you bat the more hopes. The left-handed batsman, who smashed 6 fours and 5 this concern immediately to Channel 10 when it occurred”. balls you get to play and getting 150 was a target in my career sixes for his 9th ODI century, put on a crucial 93-run sixth- “Cricket Australia’s integrity unit is looking into the matter and I am very happy to get that,” Yuvraj, who was named man wicket stand with Moeen Ali (55) to keep the chase alive. further to ensure the comments made during the broad- of the match, said. Yuvraj, who last scored a hundred against But the pressure of keeping pace with the ever-increasing cast did not jeopardise the integrity of... (the) match,” it West Indies in the 2011 World Cup, recorded his 14th ODI cen- run rate finally got to the visiting side as Plunkett remained added in a statement released Thursday. Network Ten apol- tury as he smacked 21 fours and 3 sixes in a 127-ball knock. In unbeaten on 26. “We weren’t at our best again. It’s very disap- ogised to Cricket Australia and said the comments “were in the process, he overtook the great Sachin Tendulkar’s record pointing to get so close and not over the line,” said a disap- no way intended to advise Adelaide Strikers Captain Brad run tally in ODIs against England, and he has now accumulat- pointed Morgan. “We showed a lot of fight. We believed we Hodge on game tactics or influence the outcome of the ed 1,478 runs in 36 matches. could chase it down. There’s a tremendous amount of belief game”. “Network Ten ensures that all commentators are “I wanted to prove a point to myself. It’s been a while, my but we didn’t quite have the skill.” educated on Cricket Australia’s integrity codes and poli- career has been up and down,” Yuvraj, who played his 295th Earlier Jason Roy (82) and Joe Root (54) also put on 100 cies.” The use of on-field microphones by players in ODI, said of his 14-year international career. Dhoni, 35, had a runs for the second wicket to lay a solid foundation before Twenty20 matches sparked controversy last year after star relatively sedate start, seeing out two maidens before boost- Indian spinners struck back to dent the opposition’s hopes. Australian batsman Steve Smith lost his wicket while com- ing his confidence with a couple of boundaries. The wicket- India’s premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed three mentating during a Twenty20 game against India. — AFP keeper-batsman, who survived a dropped catch on 43, made wickets. The third and final ODI is scheduled in Kolkata tomor- the most of the reprieve to post his 10th ODI hundred as he row ahead of the three-match Twenty20 series. — AFP .