Pakistan took control of the first Test against Bangladesh on Day 2 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, thanks to outstanding centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel.
The pair’s remarkable 240-run partnership for the fifth wicket propelled Pakistan to a formidable 448/6 declared, with Bangladesh ending the day at 27/0 in their first innings, trailing by 421 runs.
Resuming at a precarious 158/4, Rizwan and Shakeel blunted the Bangladesh attack with a mix of patience and aggression. Shakeel, who started the day on 57, continued his composed innings, reaching his third Test century before being stumped for 141 off 261 balls, a knock that included nine boundaries. Rizwan, who had been more aggressive, played a spectacular unbeaten innings of 171 from 239 deliveries, striking 11 fours and three sixes.
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Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to replicate their success from Day 1, where they had reduced Pakistan to 16/3. Express pacer Nahid Rana was particularly expensive, conceding 105 runs in his 19 wicketless overs as the pitch eased under bright sunshine. Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud, who had taken two wickets each on the opening day, couldn’t break the Rizwan-Shakeel stand despite bowling tirelessly.
Pakistan declared their innings after a quickfire 29 from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who hit two sixes and a boundary in just 24 balls. The declaration left Bangladesh with a tricky 12 overs to face before the close of play. Openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan managed to survive the challenging period, finishing on 12* and 11* respectively.
As the match heads into Day 3, Pakistan’s bowlers will be eager to exploit the early morning conditions with the ball still relatively new, while Bangladesh faces an uphill task to avoid a significant first-innings deficit.
Scores at the end of Day 2: Pakistan 448/6 declared (113 overs)
- Mohammad Rizwan 171* (239), Saud Shakeel 141 (261)
- Hasan Mahmud 2/70 (23 overs), Shoriful Islam 2/77 (23 overs)
Bangladesh 27/0 (12 overs)
- Shadman Islam 12* (30), Zakir Hasan 11* (42)
Pakistan Playing XI: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali
Bangladesh Playing XI: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das (wk), Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana
