August 28, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-us-Sani 29, 142

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PESHAWAR, Aug 27: Bangladesh helped by a record second wicket stand between Habibul Bashar and Javed Omar are well-placed to post a formidable first innings total against Pakistan after opening day’s play of the second Test at Arbab Niaz Stadium on Wednesday.

When the stumps were drawn on a very hot and humid day, Bangladesh enjoying one of their best day’s in Test cricket, were 240 for two wickets with Javed needing four runs for his maiden Test century and Ashraful (34) at the crease.

Habibul and Javed put on 167 for the second wicket which is a Bangladesh record for any wicket in Tests, bettering their own record in process.

Bangladesh’s highest for any wicket against any country was also held by Javed and Habibul who put on 131 runs against South Africa at Chittagong last April.

Skipper Khaled Mahmud won the toss and despite the early loss of opener Hannan Sarkar, brilliantly caught by Rashid Latif off Umar Gul with the total at 13, Habibul and Javed batting sensibly made sure of giving the visitors a big first innings total.

Aggressive Habibul who relishes Pakistan’s attack was unlucky to miss back-to-back centuries by three runs. He was trapped lbw by lanky Shabbir Ahmed. In Karachi Test he made 71 and 108.

Much touted world’s fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar made no impression on Bangladesh batsmen and bowled only 11 overs in the day.

Pakistan’s attack looked anything but moderate while the outcricket too was not upto the mark.

The Pakistan attack looking innocuous toiled hard in extremely hot and humid conditions with the temperature soaring to 36.5 celsius and the humidity hovering around 50 percent.

Habibul on 57 and with the total 118, gave a sharp chance to Yasir Hameed at silly point off Kaneria but it was not accepted. Then on 84 Mohammad Hafeez just could not hang on to a fiercely square drive off Shabbir Ahmed.

Javed, a failure at Karachi and in danger of losing his place, justified his selection with a gritty innings. He batted patiently for six hours and hammered 16 boundaries and his unfinished third wicket alliance with Ashraful so far has produced 60 valuable runs.

Ashraful, who made a century on his Test debut, looked solid and has faced 76 balls having struck three fours.

Bangladesh made two changes. Ashraful replaced Sanwar Hossain and medium pacer Alamgir Kabir came in place of Tapash Baisya.

Pakistan made one change. Utility man Shoaib Malik coming into the side at the expense of batsman Misbahul Haq.

Later Habibul said that he was not bothered to miss another century.”There is always a big difference between 97 and 100, but  you have to score for the team and I am exactly doing the same”, he said.

Habibul admitted that the wicket and weather conditions were better than Karachi where humidity was high.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will be reinforced by the return of senior batsman Younis Khan for the third Test against Bangladesh in Multan.

Younis had opted to miss the first two Tests due to family commitments.

Pakistan won the first Test on the final day last Sunday at Karachi by seven wickets.

The 26-year-old Younis has been a vital cog in Pakistan’s batting line-up for the last few years having scored 1646 runs in 27 Tests.

Scoreboard

Bangladesh first innings

Hannan Sarkar c Rashid b Umar Gul 6

Javed Omar not out 96

Habibul Bashar lbw b Shabbir Ahmed 97

Mohammad Ashraful not out 34

Extras (lb-2 nb-5) 7

Total (for two wickets, 90 overs) 240

To bat: Rajin Saleh, Alok Kapali, Khaled Mashud, Khaled Mahmud (captain), Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafe Mortaza, Alamgir Kabir

Fall of wickets: 1-13 2-180

Bowling (to date): Shoaib Akhtar 11-1-28-0 (nb-2), Umar Gul 17-2-41-1 (nb-1), Shabbir Ahmed 18-5-61-1 (nb-1), Danish Kaneria 23-7-61-0, Shoaib Malik 12-4-27-0 (nb-1), Mohammad Hafeez 9-4-20-0.—Reuters