Bangladesh Vs Pakistan Test Serise

                   Pakistan pile on misery

 

 As expected, there was no respite for Bangladesh on the second day as Pakistan consolidated their position in the first Test thanks to Mohammad Hafeez's well-composed century at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here yesterday.

The Pakistan top-order batsmen were so focused on their job that they never gave the hosts a chance to bounce back in the match after resuming the day on 132 for no loss, finishing the day with a 280-run lead with six wickets in hand. After Mohammad Hafeez's scintillating 143, the experienced Younis Khan came close to reaching a century as he was batting on 96 to help his side reaching 415-4 before stumps.
Assad Shafiq was the other not out batsman at 40.
The bowling never looked threatening on a pitch which only offered some turn and bounce in the morning session but helped the batsmen for the rest of the day. The credit also must go to the batsmen who hardly batted recklessly, showing adequate temperament as they only punished the bad ball.
Two tough chances went begging, though. A miscued pull from Younis, on 15, went to Sunny who dropped him at deep square-leg while Nafees deprived the impressive Robel Hossain of a wicket by dropping Misbah-ul Haq at second slip when he was on five.
The day however belonged to Hafiz, who continued his good form by making his fourth Test hundred and second against Bangladesh (his maiden ton also came against this opponent in 2003).
During his nearly six-hour stay, the right-hander smote 14 sweetly-timed boundaries to make his highest Test score but was unlucky when Billy Doctrove raised his finger to a leg-before decision though TV replays showed that it was a thick inside edge.
Earlier Bangladesh got the much-desired breakthrough when Mahmudullah Riyad trapped Taufeeq Umar to break the 164-run opening stand, the highest for Pakistan in ten years.
Taufeeq added only eight runs to his overnight score of 53.
Bangladesh got two more wickets in the second session when Azhar Ali edged Shahadat to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for an 80-ball 26 apart from the Hafeez dismissal.
The fourth wicket fell in the third and final session of the day when Misbah was trapped in front by Sunny off a full-toss for 20, but Assad remained alongside Younis to solidify Pakistan's already strong position.
After the second day's play, the main question remained: when will Pakistan declare their innings?