RAWALPINDI: Openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan took Bangladesh to 10/0 at Stumps on Day 2 of the second Test after Mehidy Hasan Miraz-led bowling attack booked Pakistan on 274.
Pakistan had an opportunity for an early breakthrough when Shadman Islam nicked Mir Hamza’s outswinger straight to the fifth slip fielder, Saud Shakeel, who spilt it.
Bangladesh bowlers enjoyed another fruitful session as they bagged five more wickets to bowl out Pakistan on a below-par total.
Right-arm pacer Nahid Rana kept Bangladesh in control as he outclassed Mohammad Rizwan with a bouncer minutes into the third session to break the budding partnership.
Rizwan could score 19 off 63 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.
His dismissal exposed Pakistan’s batting tail with Salman Ali Agha as the specialist batter.
Agha offered a notable fight against the momentum-filled Bangladesh bowling attack and put together one-sided partnerships with Khurram Shahzad (12) and Mohammad Ali (12) and brought up his half-century in the process.
The all-rounder, in a bid to add quick runs to the team’s total, hooked Taskin Ahmed’s bumper straight to Shakib Al Hasan at fine leg region.
He remained a notable run-getter for Pakistan with his 54 off 95 deliveries, laced up with three fours and two sixes.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz then dismissed Abrar Ahmed (9) on the first delivery of the next over to bowl out Pakistan.
Miraz was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh with a five-fer, followed by Taskin Ahmed, who bagged three wickets. Nahid Rana and Shakib Al Hasan shared two wickets between them.
Pakistan lost four wickets in the second session of day two of the ongoing Test including set batters Shan Masood and Saim Ayub.
The pair, who recovered Pakistan from an unwanted start with a 99-run partnership, could add eight runs to their tally after Lunch as Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped the home side captain lbw.
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Masood scored 57 off 69 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.
Ayub was quick to follow his captain as he perished five overs later to Miraz. He is thus far the top-scorer for Pakistan with a 58-run knock which featured four fours and two sixes.
Pakistan then lost another wicket in a quick interval when Saud Shakeel was chopped on by Taskin Ahmed, scoring just 16.
Coming out to bat at No.4, Babar Azam appeared to have settled down and was on course to launch another recovery for Pakistan alongside Mohammad Rizwan but he fell victim to veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
Babar could score 31 off 77 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.
When the Tea was called, Pakistan were 183/5 with Rizwan (18*) and Salman Ali Agha (0*) unbeaten at the crease.
Sent into bat first, Pakistan found themselves in a state of bother when Taskin Ahmed cleaned up their right-handed opener Abdullah Shafique a duck with an in-dipper.
Following the early hiccup, Masood joined Ayub in the middle and launched an astounding recovery.
The pair batted sensibly against in-form Bangladesh bowlers with Masood leading the charge.
The skipper brought up his 10th Test half-century and was unbeaten on 53 off 62 deliveries when the first session came to its closure. Ayub, on the other hand, was 43 not out.
For the unversed, the opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh was called off due to persistent rain here on Friday.
Overnight downpours delayed the toss and after more monsoon rains, umpires abandoned play for the day shortly after midday.
“The first day’s play has been called off due to persistent rain and wet outfield,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) posted on their social media platforms. Notably, neither team left their hotels.
Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad.