Mohammad Abbas claimed five wickets to restrict Bangladesh to 413, before two debutant batsmen combined to put Pakistan in a strong position in the first Test on Saturday.
Opener Azan Awais hit an unbeaten 85 and Abdullah Fazal, also playing in his first Test, was 37 not out as Pakistan reached 179-1 at stumps on the second day in Dhaka.
The visitors trail Bangladesh by 234 runs, but veteran Pakistan seamer Abbas was the standout performer, claiming three wickets in the morning session after the home side resumed at 301-4. Abbas took two more wickets after lunch and finished with figures of 5-92 from 34 overs, the sixth five-wicket haul of his career.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto laid a strong platform on the first day with 101.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who was 48 not out overnight, then went on to make a gritty 71 off 179 balls. He celebrated his 39th birthday by equalling Tamim Iqbal’s record of 42 innings of 50 or more for Bangladesh in Test cricket.
Bangladesh began day two well before 36-year-old Abbas dismantled their innings with disciplined bowling.
Litton Das fell for 33 while attempting a pull shot, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz was out for 10 one ball after hitting a six. Taijul Islam edged a bouncer from Abbas for 17 before Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled Mushfiqur in the first over after lunch.
Taskin Ahmed made a late cameo of 28 before falling to Afridi, who finished with 3-113.
Senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin lamented that Bangladesh was unable to post a bigger score and pinpointed slips catching as an area of concern after two chances were dropped.
“I think if we could have scored another 50-60 runs, it would have been much better for us,” he said. “Our slip catching needs a lot of improvement. It is a specialised area, and we will talk about how to improve further.”
Pakistan began their innings strongly, with Imam-ul-Haq and Azan adding 106 for the opening wicket before Mehidy trapped Imam lbw for 45.
Imam praised Abbas and the two new batsmen.
“Abbas bowled very well, everybody knows how good he is,” Imam said. “The way Azan batted, taking and absorbing all the pressure, the kid really held his composure. I am very happy to see both of them playing so well,” he said.
Great to see Mohammad Abbas back in form with 5-92, especially after his injury struggles. That spell in the morning session really turned the game around.
Politicians on all sides need to rediscover a sense of public service. (f92586)
Azan Awais looks solid on debut with 85 not out—hope he can convert it into a big hundred tomorrow. Pakistan’s future in good hands.
Happy 39th birthday to Mushfiqur Rahim, but 71 off 179 was too slow. Bangladesh needed to accelerate after that strong start from Shanto.
The quality of debate has deteriorated to the point of being embarrassing. (b181ea)
The media is complicit in reducing complex issues to tribal shouting matches. (a92873)
The focus should be on policy outcomes, not personality contests. (7d2a38)
Bangladesh still have a 234-run lead, but with Pakistan only one down, this Test is evenly poised. Abbas’s five-for was the difference today.
Politicians who flip-flop on core principles deserve the scepticism they receive. (9308b0)
Backroom deals are the norm and it erodes any remaining faith in the process. (2cfa37)
Politicians promise the world and deliver absolutely nothing most of the time. (4764f3)