Pakistan in cruise control after batsmen dominate day three

KARACHI: Muhammad Hafeez’s maiden double-century thoroughly tested Bangladesh’s skill and temperament in the longest format as Pakistan all but extinguished the home team’s hope of winning their first ever Test against the visitors in Khulna.

Buoyed by their unprecedented success in the shorter formats, the hosts had hoped of making an impression in the most testing of formats, but three days of toil in the Khulna heat are sure to have eaten away at their spirits.

Test cricket can be ruthless to a team if they let the opposition off the hook and Bangladesh are now in real danger of surrendering the game by more than an innings, considering the amount of turn that was on offer as the third day wore on and the quality of Pakistan’s spin attack.

In the shorter formats, the Bangladesh batsmen and bowlers made hay against a changing Pakistan team but when the experienced men returned, the Tigers have looked toothless.

The trend continued on day three with Hafeez burying the demons of the past — two dismissals in the 190s — to post his first double-hundred, an effort that was right out of the top drawer. The all-rounder has been in great form in Tests, and the innings would hopefully give him renewed confidence and help him regain his touch in other formats too.

In Khulna, Hafeez’s eventual tally of 224-runs off 332 balls was the perfect tonic needed by the upper-middle-order. Although Azhar Ali, Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq failed to reach the three-figure mark, the trio made useful contributions with 83, 33 and 59 respectively.

By stumps, the lower-middle-order pairing of Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed had brought up their half-centuries as well, with Pakistan looking in no mood of an early declaration.

Sarfraz was once again a breath of fresh air with his uncluttered mindset and aggressive approach. The wicketkeeper-batsman is poised for his fourth century in Test format after posting 51 runs off only 54 balls by the close of play.

If Pakistan decide to bat on till lunch on Friday, Sarfraz can take the hosts to the cleaners and there is a real likelihood of the visitors taking the lead well past the 300-run mark.

The Bangladesh bowlers, on the other hand, looked pedestrian throughout the third day — tired of both body and mind.

After Hafeez’s double-hundred, the bowlers looked down on spirit and also failed to control the flow of runs. Pakistan scored 310 in the entire day and the hosts got scant reward for their efforts, claiming a mere four wickets.

The game is firmly in Pakistan’s hands and it will take a Bangladeshi miracle with the bat to get the hosts out of this hole and even salvage a draw. Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah will surely be licking their lips at the prospect of bowling into the rough patches that have started to appear.

Pakistan must not take their foot off the accelerator and record as resounding a win as possible. After the nightmare of the limited-over formats, the visitors finally have the chance of registering a crushing win and improve their woeful record on a so far lacklustre tour.

 

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.