KARACHI, Aug 20: Contrary to general forecast, Bangladesh defied all odds to notch up their highest total against Pakistan on a fluctuating opening day of the first Test at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

When stumps for the day were drawn seven overs early because of bad light, the tourists had reached a commendable 278 for nine in their first innings after Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif won the toss and chose to field first.

Bangladesh had never scored beyond 160 — the total they made at Chittagong in 2001-02 — in six previous innings against Pakistan. But thanks to a record partnership between Habibul Bashar and Hannan Sarkar for any wicket, the tourists lived upto the high expectations of their Australian coach Dav Whatmore and seemed competitive.

In fact, Bangladesh might have been in a far happier situation had they not lost their way in the middle part of the innings on a pitch that was more in favour of the bowlers, given its green tinge appearance.

Habibul was the star performer with a brilliant 71 at almost a run-a-ball in his trademark cavalier style. Not for the first time did the 31-year-old right-hander needlessly give away his wicket when a century was there for the taking.

Pakistan looked visibly rusty, despite fielding a new-look side that included four new Test caps, in their first Test since badly losing to South Africa at Cape Town at the start of the year.

But that was no excuse for Pakistan’s lethargic performance because the prevailing conditions, with the sun barely making an appearance all day, were ideal for seam bowling.

Shoaib Akhtar, by far the most experienced fast bowler on view, got carried away and preferred to spray the ball all over the place.

Shabbir Ahmed, the tall 27-year-old fast-medium bowler from Khanewal, outshone Shoaib on an impressive Test debut. He troubled all Bangladeshi batsmen with his pace and swing.

Umar Gul, also playing his maiden Test, bowled well in patches after picking up his first scalp with the final ball of his second over when Javed Omar (1) played across the line.

Hannan, the other opener, however, put his head down admirably to provide an appropriate foil to the aggressive Habibul as the pair survived the rest of the opening session of the series to help Bangladesh reach lunch at 97 for one.

They combined to forge Bangladesh’s fifth second-wicket partnership in excess of 100 or more and only the seventh three-figure stand in 43 Test innings to-date.

The duo combined to put on 114 runs in 133 minutes before both perished at the same score. Hannan was adjudged caught behind, down the leg side, by Sri Lankan umpire Tyronne Wijewardena off Shabbir. TV replays, however, proved inconclusive whether the batsman had gloved the ball to Rashid.

Wijewardena, standing in his third Test, also miscounted when he called over after the penultimate ball of the day.

Hannan’s two hours and 26 minutes vigil at the crease produced 41 watchful runs, including five boundaries.

Habibul, who had completed his 13th fifty in 22 Tests by spanking eight fours off 40 balls, then committed a cardinal sin when he slashed Shoaib’s rank long hop to a diving Mohammad Hafeez, whose first catch in Test was quite magnificent inches off the turf.

Habibul, whose first five scoring shots were all boundaries, thus failed to cash in on after being let off in the slips by Taufiq Umar with his score on 67. Nevertheless, it was a sparkling 130- minute display that was laced with 12 fours.

Sanwar Hossain, promoted to No 4 in the absence of out-of-form Mohammad Ashraful, made 15 before Steve Bucknor belatedly sent him on his way LBW to Shoaib just as the batsmen were completing a possible second leg-bye.

Rajin Saleh, the 32nd debutant for his country, survived a painful entry into Test cricket when a Shoaib Akhtar missile struck him on the right shoulder. However, the 19-year-old batted courageously afterwards for a solid 26 until Danish Kaneria lured him to hit down Umar Gul’s throat at mid-on.

Of the remaining batsmen only Alok Kapali and Khaled Mashud offered some sort of a fight in another useful partnership that yielded 55 runs for the sixth wicket in 91 minutes.

Kapali fell four short of a third Test fifty, offering a simple catch to Shabbir at mid-off off Kaneria. His 106-ball innings contained seven hits to the ropes.

Mashud, the former captain and wicket-keeper, was trapped in front by Umar for a 78-ball 19 after Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud (14) had steered a Kaneria leg-spinner to slip where Yasir Hameed, the fourth debutant for Pakistan, pocketed a simple catch.

Tapash Baisya (10) fell to the second new ball, caught by Taufiq, who donned the wicket-keeping gloves after Rashid was forced off the field with a finger injury on his right hand.

All three pacemen claimed two wickets apiece while Kaneria continued his liking for the Bangladeshis with three scalps, taking his haul to 28 wickets against them.

But the day belonged to Bangladesh for the way they dedicated themselves to the task that Whatmore had planned for them. The partnership between Hannan and Habibul easily usurped the highest Bangladesh had ever managed — 69 added by Habibul and Sanwar at Chittagong last year.

Play on the second day will begin 15 minutes earlier to make up for the overs lost on Wednesday.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st Innings):