- Urdu match report is attached
Rawalpindi, 8 February 2020: Pakistan were in a commanding position with a 109-run lead when stumps were drawn on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
After bowling out Bangladesh for 233 on the opening day, the hosts were 342 for three - on the back of centuries by opener Shan Masood and Babar Azam - at the close of play on Saturday.
Shan provided a solid platform with a brilliant 100 from 160 balls. Over the course of his stay at the crease which ended just before Tea, the left-handed batsman smashed 11 boundaries. This was Shan’s second consecutive and overall third century in Test cricket.
Babar’s impressive run in Test cricket continued as the middle-order batsman registered his fourth century in the last five matches.
Babar was not out on 143. To date, he had struck 19 fours and a six in 192 balls. With this innings, Babar now has a century in all three home Tests this season.
He was joined by Asad Shafiq, who batted on 60 and had hit eight fours, at the other end.
Bangladesh were quick to make early inroads as Abu Jayed accounted for the wicket of Abid Ali (0). Playing his seventh Test, the right-arm medium-fast struck again later in the first session to send Pakistan captain Azhar Ali (34) back to the pavilion.
But a 91-run stand for the second-wicket between Shan and Azhar and a thumping 112-run partnership between Shan and Babar for the third-wicket push the touring party on the backfoot.
Left-arm orthodox Taijul Islam was the only other Bangladesh bowler to open his wickets’ column with the dismissal of Shan.
Scores in brief
Bangladesh 233 all-out, 82.5 overs (Mohammad Mithun 63, Najmul Hossain Shanto 44, Liton Das 33; Shaheen Afridi 4-53, Haris Sohail 2-11, Mohammad Abbas 2-19)
Pakistan 342-3, 87.5 overs (Babar Azam 143 not out, Shan Masood 100, Asad Shafiq 60 not out, Azhar Ali 34; Abu Jayed 2-66)
