ICC Test Championship
Pakistan -Bangladesh 2nd Test played at Rawalpindi
Advantage to Bangladesh
Scorecard at Stumps Day two
Pakistan 1st innings 274 All Out in 85.1 Over (Saim Ayub 58, Shan Masood 57, Salman Agha 54, Babar Azam 31, Mohammad Rizwan 29, Mehedy Miraj 5/61, Taskin Ahmed 3/57, Shakib Al Hasan 1/34, Nahid Rana 1/58)
Bangladesh 1st Innings 10/0 in 2 overs.
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field
In the must win second test after losing the first test fair and square by 10 wickets Pakistan was bundled out for 274 batting first in the second test at Rawalpindi yesterday. A very spirited Bangladesh bowling exceedingly well in the post lunch session restricted Pakistan and look in command and control at stump on day two.
The first day of the match was washed out without the ball being bowled. With only three days of the match left Pakistan must do something of a magic for changing the fate of the series. Otherwise, it looks most likely that Bangladesh is going to achieve historic series win if not series whitewash.
Desperate Pakistan appeared with tow notable changes. Two of their frontline bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were replaced by pace all rounder Mir Hamja and leg spinning all rounder Abrar Ahmed. It is to be seen whether the very raw Pakistan attack can deliver in this must win test. On that other hand Taskin Ahmed spearhead of Bangladesh attack has already proved the team think tank right taking three wickets for 57 runs. Bangladesh bowlers bowling to the best of their abilities proved the decision of bowling first after winning the toss right as well.
The green top wicket kept covered during rain for a considerable time prior to the match had some moisture. Taskin struck an early blow removing Abdullah Shafique in the very first over. But after that batting sensibly Pakistan Captain Shan Masood (57) and young Saim Ayub (58) remaining unconquered till lunch looked well set for a sizeable first innings. After lunch Mehidy Miraj bowling at probing length and enticing the batsmen with clever flights stuck two deadly blows. 107 runs 2nd wicket partnership remained the only bright spot of the Pakistan innings. Their miseries deepened when Taskin cleaned up Saud Shakeel, Shakib accounted for Babar Azam (31) and Nahid Rana fooled Mohammad Rizwan (29). Mehedi and Taskin mopped up the tail restricting Pakistan to 274 all out. Mehidy taking 5/61 wrote his name in the honors board of Rawalpindi Long Room. Taskin took 3/57, The situation of Pakistan innings could be more pathetic if Bangladesh could hold half of the four dropped catches. At stumps of day two Bangladesh reached 10/0
It can be safely concluded that advantage is now with Bangladesh. With three days left in the match Bangladesh must bat sensibly and try to achieve a sizable first innings lead. More important is batting longer at least well into day four. A series win looks like a real possibility if not a whitewash. What a great achievement it will be.
BDST: 1034 HRS, SEPT 01, 2024
SMS
