Pakistan press for win in second Bangladesh Test

Bangladesh 63 for one in their second innings at stumps on the third day

DHAKA:

Bangladesh, set a victory target of 550 runs, were 63 for one in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the second and final Test against Pakistan on Friday.

Tamim Iqbal was unbeaten on 32 and Mominul Haque was on 15 with Bangladesh needing to bat out six sessions over the last two days to avoid defeat in the short series.

Imrul Kayes was bowled by Yasir Shah for 16.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 203 in their first innings before lunch, but Pakistan did not enforce the follow-on — despite enjoying a mammoth lead of 354 runs.

Pakistan declared their second innings after tea at 195-6 with skipper Misbah-ul Haq leading the charge with a 72-ball 82 that included nine boundaries and three sixes.

Pakistan set 550-run target for Bangladesh

Bangladesh were set a target of 550 runs to win the second and final Test in Dhaka after Pakistan declared their second innings at 195-6 on the third day on Friday.

Pakistan did not enforce the follow-on despite gaining a first-innings lead of 354 runs as they looked to put Bangladesh under pressure on the wearing pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq led the charge with a 72-ball 82 before closing the innings soon after his dismissal in the post-tea session.

Pakistan build 446-run lead over Bangladesh

Pakistan were 92 for three in their second innings at tea on the third day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday, taking their overall lead to 446 runs.

Younis Khan was unbeaten on 30 and skipper Misbah-ul Haq was on 22 with the tourists looking to set Bangladesh a giant target on the wearing pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Misbah, attempting a series-clinching win after the first Test in Khulna was drawn last week, did not enforce the follow-on despite securing a lead of 354 runs.

Bangladesh, who resumed at the overnight score of 107-5, were bowled out for 203 in their first innings shortly before lunch.
When Pakistan batted a second time, Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed before lunch off the fourth ball of the innings, caught behind off hard-working seamer Mohammad Shahid.

Shahid struck again soon after resumption when he removed Sami Aslam, before Azhar Ali, a double-centurion in the first innings, became Soumya Sarkar's first Test victim after making 25.

The hosts conceded the huge lead despite a brilliant counter-attack by Shakib Al Hasan, who made an unbeaten 89 off 91 balls with 14 boundaries and two sixes.

Shakib, who was on 27 when the eighth wicket fell at the total of 140, smashed 62 of the 63 runs he added for the ninth wicket with Mohammad Shahid, who held his end for nine overs.

The left-hander raced to his half-century with two consecutive boundaries off leg-spinner Yasir Shah and celebrated the landmark with a six later in the same over.

Bangladesh had added six runs to their overnight total when Sarkar was snapped up at short cover off Wahab Riaz, who then dismissed Shuvagata Hom for zero in his next over.

The innings terminated when Shahid was dismissed by Yasir because the injured Shahadat Hossain was unable to bat.

Wahab and Yasir picked up three wickets each. Pakistan made 557-8 declared in their first innings.

Pakistan grab 354-run lead over Bangladesh

Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 203 in their first innings before lunch on the third day of the second and final Test in Dhaka on Friday.

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq opted not to enforce the follow-on despite the tourists leading by 354 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Shakib al Hasan remained unbeaten on 89 off 91 balls after the hosts resumed at the overnight score of 107-5.

Left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz and leg-spinner Yasir Shah picked up three wickets each.

The first Test ended in a draw in Khulna last week.

Second day

Bangladesh, replying to Pakistan's first innings score of 557-8, were 107-5 at stumps on the second day.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was bowled by Yasir Shah for 12 off the day's final delivery to leave Shakib Al Hasan unbeaten on 14 and Bangladesh trailing by 450 runs with five wickets in hand.

Earlier for Pakistan, Azhar Ali hit a career-best 226 and Asad Shafiq made 107 during a fifth-wicket stand of 207 before skipper Misbah-ul Haq declared at tea.

Younis Khan had made 148 on the first day after Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

The first Test ended in a draw in Khulna last week.

Pakistan declare at 557-8 against Bangladesh

Pakistan declared their first innings at the tea score of 557 for eight on the second day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday.

Azhar Ali hit a career-best 226 and Asad Shafiq made 107 during a fifth-wicket stand Azhar Ali hit a career-best 226 and Asad Shafiq made 107 during a fifth-wicket stand of 207, before Pakistan lost four wickets in the space of 27 runs just before tea.

Younis Khan had made 148 on the first day after Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and elected to field at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

The first Test ended in a draw in Khulna last week.

Azhar Ali scores maiden double ton as Pakistan march towards a mammoth total

Pakistan Test team vice-captain, Azhar Ali, scored his maiden double century against Bangladesh in style with a six off Shakib Al Hasan on Thursday at Mirpur.

He played 406 balls for his double century and hit 19 boundaries and a six in the process. Meanwhile, Asad Shafiq completed his sixth Test century for Pakistan.

Pakistan are well set to score a mammoth first innings total for Bangladesh as the pitch has started to wear out and a result can be expected in the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Pakistan 428-4 at lunch on day two

Pakistan were 428 for four at lunch on the second day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Thursday.

Azhar Ali was unbeaten on a career-best 173 and Asad Shafiq was on 58, the pair having put on 105 runs so far for the fifth wicket.

Pakistan lost skipper Misbah-ul Haq in the day's second over, bowled by Shakib Al Hasan for nine, before a run had been added to the overnight score of 323 for three.

The first Test ended in a draw in Khulna last week.

Younus, Azhar punish hapless Bangladesh attack 

Younus Khan and Azhar Ali hit centuries as Pakistan capitalised on Bangladesh’s misfortune to post a commanding 323-3 on the opening day of the second and final Test on Wednesday.

Younus made 148 and Azhar was unbeaten on 127, the pair having shared a third-wicket stand of 250 to rescue the tourists from 58-2 after Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and elected to field in Dhaka.

Both batsmen were lucky to reach three figures after being reprieved by no-balls even as Bangladesh struggled to overcome the loss of strike bowler Shahadat Hossain in the day’s first over.

Shahadat, who replaced the injured Rubel Hossain for the decisive Test, collapsed on his follow through after sending down the first ball and hobbled off the field after his second delivery. He returned after the morning drinks break, and even though he did not bowl for the rest of the session, he took a catch in the deep to dismiss Sami Aslam.

However, Shahadat succumbed to injury again while training during the lunch break and had to be lifted away on a stretcher.

Chief selector Faruque Ahmed said the 28-year-old seamer had injured his right knee and was unlikely to take any further part in the match.

Nine bowlers used in face of Shahadat’s injury

Left with a depleted attack, Bangladesh used nine bowlers to try to contain the run flow, with Rahim and Tamim Iqbal the only ones who did not turn their arms over.

Part-time seamer Soumya Sarkar would have dismissed Younus on 78, caught in the covers from a mistimed drive, but TV replays showed the bowler had overstepped to concede a no-ball.

Similarly, Azhar escaped on 18 when he was caught in the slips off Mohammad Shahid, only to see TV umpire Ranmore Martinesz confirm a no-ball.

“I love to score for my team,” said Younus, the 37-year-old veteran of 98 Tests, who hit 11 boundaries and three sixes in his 29th Test century. “Partnerships are always the key. Azhar and I got together and had a big one today. But we need to keep up the good work tomorrow as well.”

Azhar, who reached his eighth hundred by lofting Taijul for his 10th four, added three more boundaries before stumps.

Younus was dismissed by the hard-working Shahid five overs before stumps when he slashed a short ball to gully, where Shuvagata Hom made no mistake.

Captain Misbahul Haq was unbeaten on nine at stumps with Pakistan well-placed to build a huge total and put the hosts under pressure.

Shahid, who took two of the three wickets, rued the injury to teammate Shahadat, saying the outcome may have been different if he had been bowling at the other end. “I wish Shahadat was around to bowl,” he said. “Hopefully things will work out better for us tomorrow.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2015.

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