Bangladesh
showed some character when they fought back after suffering from
another top order collapse on the first day of the second and last Test
match. Shakib and Nafees put on 180 runs for the 5th wicket keeping Pakistan’s fancied bowling attack at bay.
Pakistan
went into the Test unchanged, while hosts made two changes, bringing in
Nazmul Hossain and Robiul Islam for Rubel and Ashraful. On a wicket
having a tinge of grass, Misbah chose to bowl as he often does. After a
delayed start for an hour, Aizaz Cheema and Umar Gul bowled brilliantly
using the new ball well to reduce the hosts to 43 for 4.
Nazimuddin, who made a promising debut at Chittagong, left a sharp in cutter from Aizaz and was given out although it hit him a touch high. Tamim’s vows continued and after a scratchy 14 perished hooking Gul aimlessly in the lap of Cheema. Aizaz Cheema, who was getting the ball to talk, got another one to nip back sharply crashing into the stumps through bat and pad as Mahmudullah erringly played back.
Cheema was mainly bringing the ball in to the right-handers but he got Nasir Hossain with a one that left him a touch and keeper Adnan Akmal made no mistake. At Lunch, Bangladesh were 54 for 4 and another disappointing batting collapse looked on the cards. With the sun coming out, wicket had eased up considerably as both Shahriar Nafees and Shakib Al Hasan proved after the break.
Shakib eased into his innings with three fours in one over of Cheema while Nafees waited for the spinners to come before he opened his arms. Both batsmen were in their 60s when Tea approached, after completing a 100-run partnership. Aizaz bowled his heart out on a pitch that had become lifeless but Nafees and Shakib neutralised his every trick. Gul and Cheema resorted to hostile short pitch bowling but did not get any breakthrough.
Shakib completed his second Test hundred off 159 balls that included 14 hits to the boundary. It was a delightful knock and he had given Bangladesh batting much needed lift. Shahriar Nafees, on the other hand, was looking all set to notch up his century, second of his career. But Umar Gul tested him with a snorter that he failed to leave. The ball touched his gloves through to the keeper as Nafees walked away dejectedly for 177-ball 97 runs with 12 fours.
Shakib’s innings was full of enterprising shots on both sides of the wicket. On occasions he danced down the track against spinners and hit through the line. Nafees thrived on shots square of the wicket. He swept the spinners well and pulled both Gul and Cheema admirably.
Mushfiqur started with a boundary and along with Shakib, not out on 108, ended the day with his team sitting nicely for the first time in the series. Bad light curtailed the play once again. Pakistan would look to restrict Bangladesh to manageable total come the second day, while hosts’ hopes of a large score will rest on how this pair bats.
Summarised Scores:
Bangladesh 234/5 (Shakib 108*, Nafees 97; Cheema 3/52)
Hero of the Day: Shakib Al Hasan
Disappointment of the day: Saeed Ajmal
Match Report – 1st day: 2nd Test, Played at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, 17- 21 December 2011
Nazimuddin, who made a promising debut at Chittagong, left a sharp in cutter from Aizaz and was given out although it hit him a touch high. Tamim’s vows continued and after a scratchy 14 perished hooking Gul aimlessly in the lap of Cheema. Aizaz Cheema, who was getting the ball to talk, got another one to nip back sharply crashing into the stumps through bat and pad as Mahmudullah erringly played back.
Cheema was mainly bringing the ball in to the right-handers but he got Nasir Hossain with a one that left him a touch and keeper Adnan Akmal made no mistake. At Lunch, Bangladesh were 54 for 4 and another disappointing batting collapse looked on the cards. With the sun coming out, wicket had eased up considerably as both Shahriar Nafees and Shakib Al Hasan proved after the break.
Shakib eased into his innings with three fours in one over of Cheema while Nafees waited for the spinners to come before he opened his arms. Both batsmen were in their 60s when Tea approached, after completing a 100-run partnership. Aizaz bowled his heart out on a pitch that had become lifeless but Nafees and Shakib neutralised his every trick. Gul and Cheema resorted to hostile short pitch bowling but did not get any breakthrough.
Shakib completed his second Test hundred off 159 balls that included 14 hits to the boundary. It was a delightful knock and he had given Bangladesh batting much needed lift. Shahriar Nafees, on the other hand, was looking all set to notch up his century, second of his career. But Umar Gul tested him with a snorter that he failed to leave. The ball touched his gloves through to the keeper as Nafees walked away dejectedly for 177-ball 97 runs with 12 fours.
Shakib’s innings was full of enterprising shots on both sides of the wicket. On occasions he danced down the track against spinners and hit through the line. Nafees thrived on shots square of the wicket. He swept the spinners well and pulled both Gul and Cheema admirably.
Mushfiqur started with a boundary and along with Shakib, not out on 108, ended the day with his team sitting nicely for the first time in the series. Bad light curtailed the play once again. Pakistan would look to restrict Bangladesh to manageable total come the second day, while hosts’ hopes of a large score will rest on how this pair bats.
Summarised Scores:
Bangladesh 234/5 (Shakib 108*, Nafees 97; Cheema 3/52)
Hero of the Day: Shakib Al Hasan
Disappointment of the day: Saeed Ajmal
Published in SP on 17/12/11
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