Bangladesh became the next major Test-playing nation, after Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan to play the game, in order to restore normalcy in the cricket-frenzied nation.
After winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bowl first and restricted the visitors to a total of 233 in the first innings, prior to stumps on Day 1.
Left-arm speedster Shaheen Afridi caused a ruckus within the Bangladeshi camp with his four-wicket haul. Mohammad Mithun was the lone warrior in the visitor’s camp with his top-scoring knock of 63.
In reply, Day 2 belonged to opener Shan Maqsood and their batting talisman Babar Azam, who both scored well-compiled hundreds. Babar remained unbeaten on 143 by the end of stumps on Day 2.
The graceful right-hander, going strength to strength in world cricket with each innings, brought up his fifth Test ton. His rapid knock came at a strike rate of 74.5, laced with nineteen boundaries and a maximum.
Shan Masood, at the other end, brought up his third Test ton and got dismissed as soon as he got to his landmark. Both Babar and Maqsood added more than a hundred runs in their partnership, to put the hosts in a commanding position.
Asad Shafiq gave able support to Azam for the fourth wicket, with his unbeaten knock of 60, to take Pakistan’s lead to 109.
The Pakistan batsmen made the Bangladeshi bowlers toil hard after the early dismissal of Abid Ali. Fast bowler Abu Jayed being the only silver lining for the Tigers, with a couple of wickets to his name, going at a miserly economy rate.
Well, Day 2 remained nicely poised for the hosts as they carried forward their lead and ruled the Bangla Tigers out of the match. One must remember, Bangladesh came to Pakistan after successive innings defeat at the hands of the Indians.
