Pakistan declared the innings at 448 for six on the second day of the first Test of the two-match series on the back of centuries from wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Saud Shakeel and a 240-run partnership for the fifth wicket between the two. Rizwan played a career-best innings of 171 runs (not out) off 239 balls with 11 fours and three sixes, while left-handed batsman Shakeel continued his excellent form in the red ball format, scoring 141 runs off 261 balls with the help of nine fours.
By the end of the day’s play, Bangladesh scored 27 runs without any loss in 12 overs. Openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan are standing firm at the crease with 12 and 11 runs respectively. Pakistan started the day at 158 runs for four wickets. Shakeel and Rizwan did not face any trouble against Bangladesh bowlers.
Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hasan Shanto, after getting a long spell from the fast bowlers on the grassy pitch, turned to spinners in search of wickets but the team did not get any success in the first session of the day. During this, Rizwan and Shakeel added 98 runs before the lunch break to take the team’s score to 256 runs for four wickets.
Bangladesh’s pacers failed to extract the kind of swing they did in the first hour of play on the opening day of the match on Wednesday. Bangladesh had put Pakistan on the back foot by losing three wickets for 16 runs but the home team made a brilliant comeback after that.
After lunch, Bangladesh had a chance to dismiss Rizwan but wicketkeeper Liton Das failed to convert two difficult chances against the spin bowlers. Rizwan completed his third century of Test career by hitting a four against experienced left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (one wicket for 100 runs).
Shakeel completed his third century by running two runs through the cover area against Mehdi Hasan Miraz (1 wicket for 80 runs). With this, he equaled former batsman Saeed Ahmed in terms of completing 1000 runs in Tests for Pakistan at the fastest pace, completing 1000 runs in 20 innings.
Rizwan played an unbeaten innings of 171 runs, becoming the first Pak batsman to do so after 15 years
Shariful Islam (2-77) and Hasan Mahmud (2-70) went wicketless on the second day and third pacer Nahid Rana was also less impressive at 0-105 from 19 overs. Shakil was stumped off Mehedi in the dying minutes of the second session while Shakib dismissed Salman Ali Agha (19) in his 25th over.
Shaheen Shah Afridi played an aggressive innings of 29 runs in 24 balls to help the team declare the innings early. The two-Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship in which Pakistan is sixth and Bangladesh eighth in the nine-nation table.
