Pakistan is in a strong position to level the Test series against Bangladesh as the touring team is struggling in the second Test, having lost 6 wickets for just 26 runs.
The match is being played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. In the first Test, Bangladesh secured a historic 10-wicket victory against the hosts at the same ground. This was Bangladesh’s first Test win against Pakistan, and they had hoped to continue their success in the series. However, that goal now seems increasingly unlikely.
The first day of the second Test was affected by rain, so the game began on the second day, Saturday, with Pakistan batting first and scoring 274 runs. On the third day, the game is ongoing, and Bangladesh is struggling at 36/6 and facing a follow-on.
If Pakistan can dismiss the remaining Bangladeshi players quickly, they could level the series at 1-1.
On Saturday, Pakistan were put on the back foot after Taskin clean bowled Abdullah Shafique for 0 in the first over of the game.
The host recovered as skipper Shan Masood partnered with Saim Ayub, playing out the first session with dominance. Masood was the aggressor while Ayub held his end.
But Bangladesh managed to dismiss both after Lunch as they crossed respective fifties, Masood was trapped by Mehidy on 57 while Ayub got stumped at 58.
Saud Shakeel joined Babar Azam but he couldn’t stay for long as he tried to play a square cut and got cramped for space, finding the thick inside edge which crashed onto the stumps.
At the stroke of tea, veteran Shakib Al Hasan had the better of Babar as he trapped him in front for an LBW wicket. He made 31 off 77 balls.
Babar has now gone 15 innings without scoring a fifty in Test cricket.
Bangladesh kept on taking wickets in regular intervals in the last session. Nahid Rana surprised Mohammad Rizwan with back of a length ball which had extra bounce and had enough to take an edge. Rizwan managed 29 only.
Miraz got the better of Khurram Shehzad (12) and Mohammad Ali (2), putting pressure on Salman Ali Agha.
Salman played his shots from the other end, reaching his seventh Test fifty but was dismissed soon after crossing the milestone. He made 54 off 95 balls.
The innings concluded with Abrar Ahmed getting stumped after he scored nine runs.
