1st Test Pakistan v Bangladesh Day 2 - Free-flowing Babar powers Pakistan

Pakistan has further strengthened their grip of the Test match with excellent batting display on the second day at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Match Summary

Bangladesh 233/10 (82.5 Ov)

Pakistan 342/3 (87.5 Ov)

At the Close of Play Day2 - Pakistan lead Bangladesh by 109 runs with 7 wickets remaining

Full Scorecard

A hundred apiece from opening batsman Shan Masood and the team’s best batsman, Babar Azam has helped the home side to overtake Bangladesh’s first innings total of 233 without much fuss. They closed the day on a commanding 342-3, 109 ahead already with seven wickets in hand and all the time in the world.

That's stumps on day two with Pakistan 342-3. Babar Azam to chase 150 and Asad Shaifiq to chase100 tomorrow. #PAKvBAN Scorecard: https://t.co/yWnPXpjXNR pic.twitter.com/PGiCxLZaMU

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 8, 2020

 With the exception of Abid Ali, who perished without opening his account, Bangladesh bowlers had a tough day in the field. They lacked discipline and penetration on a good batting track and fast outfield. The tourists’ bowling attack, without their star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, at present serving an ICC ban, was bound to struggle on Pakistan pitches. Slow left-armer, Tajul Islam, one of only three bowlers to capture hundred wickets for Bangladesh in 20 years of Test cricket, could only play a containing role with figures of 1-111 off his 34 overs. It is hoped their new generation of cricketers, which faces India in the u-19 World Cup final tomorrow, can rise to the challenge at the senior level too.

Shan Masood, fluent from word go this morning, punished anything short and in company with captain Azhar Ali (34) added 91 runs for the second wicket. The arrival of Babar Azam at No.4 simply added more pressure on Bangladesh bowling attack as run-rate stayed over for the best part of the day. Shan could be said to have dominated the bowling but would have loved to cash in more but was out to a soft dismissal, after completing his hundred. His innings of 100 required 160 balls with 11 fours to his credit and his 3^rd wicket stand with Babar was worth 112 runs.

Since Shan’s dismissal, Babar and Asad Shafiq have put on 137 runs for the 4^th wicket and a pretty good rate. Dropped at long-off by Ebadat Hossain when 2, Babar is in a middle of a purple patch and now has notched up four hundreds in his last seven Test innings. Unbeaten on a career-best 143, with no pressure whatsoever of time, he could well break few records tomorrow. His partner Asad Shafiq is on 60 and has looked fairly solid for a big contribution with the bat.

On the opening day of the Test PCB had invited three former Pakistan captains – Javed Burki, Majid Khan and Mushtaq Mohammed. The three played their last game together against England at The Oval  in 1967 and collectively scored 21 Test hundreds in their Test careers.

Teams

Pakistan - Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali(c), Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi

Bangladesh - Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque(c), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Liton Das(wk), Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed, Ebadat Hossain

 

Match Details

 

Start Time: 05:00

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and decided to field

Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Officials: Nigel Llong, Christopher Gaffaney, Marais Erasmus, Shozab Raza, Richard Richardson

©Cricket World 2020