Kamal Ghorui
After opting to bowl first, Pakistan made an ideal start as pace spearheads Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali struck early to reduce Bangladesh to 31/2 inside 11 overs. Afridi removed Mahmudul Hasan Joy for 8, while Hasan Ali dismissed Shadman Islam for 13.
However, the early breakthroughs proved to be Pakistan’s only major success for a long period as Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque steadied the innings with a superb 170-run partnership for the third wicket.
Shanto played the attacking role in the stand, smashing 101 runs with the help of 12 fours and two sixes, while Mominul anchored the innings with a composed knock of 91. Together, the duo frustrated the Pakistan bowling attack through the middle sessions and firmly shifted momentum in Bangladesh’s favour.
Pakistan finally broke the stand in the 53rd over when Mohammad Abbas trapped Shanto LBW shortly after he completed a well-crafted century. Bangladesh were then placed at 201/3.
Mominul continued to pile on the runs and shared another important 75-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim, but narrowly missed out on a century after falling for 91 to Noman Ali in the 74th over.
By the close of play, Mushfiqur remained unbeaten on 48, while Litton Das was unbeaten on 8 as the pair added an unbroken 25-run stand to take Bangladesh past the 300-run mark.
Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to maintain control for most of the day, with Abbas emerging as the pick of the attack with figures of 1/51 and the best economy among the visiting bowlers. Pakistan also failed to complete their full quota of overs, managing only 85 overs due to a slow over rate.
Bangladesh will now aim to build a first-innings total beyond 400 on Day 2, while Pakistan will hope the second new ball can help them strike early and pull themselves back into the contest.
