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SYLHET: Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam joined Steve Smith in the World Test Championship (WTC) record books with a half-century in the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Stadium on Sunday.
Babar brought up his 20th WTC fifty and moved into a joint-third position on the all-time list of WTC half-centuries, alongside Steve Smith and England’s Zak Crawley.
England veteran Joe Root sits second with 22 half-centuries, while Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne leads the list with 24 fifties.
Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) – 24
Joe Root (England) – 22
Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 20*
Steve Smith (Australia) – 20
Zak Crawley (England) – 20
Pakistan were dismissed for 232 in 57.4 overs, with Babar Azam top-scoring for the visitors with 68.
Resuming after Tea at 206-8 and trailing by 71 runs, Pakistan lost Khurram Shehzad (10), adding just a single run to the team’s total. Sajid Khan then offered brief resistance with a fighting 38 off 28 balls, striking four sixes and two fours, including three consecutive sixes off Nahid Rana.
However, Rana had the final say, dismissing Sajid to wrap up the innings and give Bangladesh a first-inning lead.
For Bangladesh, Nahid Rana and Taijul Islam led the attack, sharing six wickets between them, while Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up two each.
Sajid Khan and Khurram Shehzad remained at the crease, both scoring six and 10 runs respectively.
Babar Azam had earlier held the innings together with a fluent 68 off 84 balls, striking 10 fours. He shared a 63-run partnership with Salman Ali Agha after Pakistan were in early trouble.
But once Babar was removed, Pakistan lost their way in the middle. He was caught at mid on in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings. He looked in fine touch, scoring 68 off 84 balls, including 10 fours.
Rana broke the stand, brought back by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto in a decisive move that got the prized wicket of Babar.
READ: Rana, Taijul rattle Pakistan to take big lead in second Test
