September 4, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 6, 1424

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MULTAN, Sept 3: Bangladesh squandered another opportunity to put pressure on Pakistan after Habibul Bashar’s 72 had laid the foundation of a sizable first innings total on a fluctuating opening day of the third and final Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

In a city, renowned for heat, beggars, dust and burial grounds, Bangladesh ended the day at a respectable 248 for six with wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud (29) and skipper Khaled Mahmud (1) at the crease.

Bangladesh would have been in far better placed had Rajin Saleh not lost his wicket in a most unusual manner, after yet another impressive contribution. A drive from Khaled Mashud ricocheted off bowler Yasur Ali’s boot before crashing into the stumps at the bowler’s end with Saleh out of his ground.

The tourists dug themselves out of trouble thanks once again to Habibul’s third half-century of the series and two notable partnerships after Khaled Mahmud had won the toss and elected to bat first on the best-looking pitch of the series.

Pakistan’s final XI showed five changes from the side that played in the second Test at Peshawar after 17-year-old Yasir Ali, a right-arm fast-medium bowler from Attock with no previous first-class experience behind him before this season, was drafted in in place of leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Fellow debutants Salman Butt and Farhan Adil replaced Taufiq Umar and Yousuf Youhana while Younis Khan and Saqlain Mushtaq returned, replacing the two Shoaibs, Akhtar and Malik.

Bangladesh, as announced on Tuesday, made two changes in their line-up swapping Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Alamgir Kabir with fellow pacemen Tapash Baisya and Manjural Islam. The last name is playing his first game of the series.

Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul who shared the new ball hardly troubled Hannan Sarkar and Javed Omar because of poor length and line. But Umar gradually settled into a groove and was easily the pick of the bowlers.

It was Umar who provided the first breakthrough when he had Hannan edging behind a simple catch to Pakistan captain Rashid Latif in the 10th over of the day. Hannan made only 13 while adding 28 with fellow opener Javed.

Javed and Habibul, who had put on 167 for the second wicket on the first day of Peshawar Test, came together again in the biggest stand of the innings so far. The pair added 74 in just under two hours on either side of lunch, which was taken with Bangladesh at 83 for one, before Umar struck again, forcing Javed to play a streaky stroke outside the off stump, with Younis Khan taking a fine low catch.

Javed, who scored a century in the last Test, batted patiently for a watchful 38, scored in 157 minutes off 104 deliveries, with seven boundaries.

Mohammad Ashraful never looked at ease while facing Saqlain. He was given out leg-before-wicket offering no stroke to the same bowler after making 12.

The prized scalp for Pakistan was Habibul Bashar who looked well on course for his second century in the series, but again his impetuosity got the better of him when 28.

Yasir slanted a delivery across Habibul who could only get an outside edge one to give Rashid a fine, tumbling catch to his right. Habibul’s 72 contained nine hits to the fence in a 153-ball knock.

Mashud, who had dubious honour of bagging a pair in the second Test, arrived at the crease with his team at 179 for five. But slow but surely, Mashud and young Saleh got the partnership going before tragedy deprived the latter from reaching a richly deserved half century by a solitary run.

His three-hour stay was spiced with eight fours and the sixth-wicket partnership with Mashud realized 62 runs in 104 minutes.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh are releasing Javed Omar, Manjural Islam and Anwar Hossain for the five-match one-day series against Pakistan starting next week. The three will return home after the Multan Test.

The replacements are Tushar Imran, Habibul Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahman who are due to arrive on Thursday.

Scoreboard

Bangladesh (first innings)

Hannan Sarkar c R. Latif b Umar Gul 13

Javed Omar c Y. Khan b Umar Gul 38

Habibul Bashar c R. Latif b Yasir Ali 72

Mohammad Ashraful lbw Saqlain 12

Rajin Saleh run out Yasir Ali 49

Alok Kapali b Umar Gul 11

Khaled Mashud not out 29

Khaled Mahmud not out 1

Extras: (lb-7 b-4 nb-12) 23

Total (for six wickets, 90 overs) 248

Fall of wickets: 1-28 2-102 3-136 4-166 5-179 6-241

To bat: Mohammad Rafique, Tapash Baisya, Manjural Islam

Bowling (to date): Shabbir Ahmed 21-3-55-0 (nb-5), Umar Gul 27-6-71-3 (nb-6), Yasir Ali 14-4-43-1, Saqlain Mushtaq 25-5-61-1(nb-1), Mohammad Hafeez 3-1-7-0.

PAKISTAN:

Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Farhan Adil, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq, Yasir Ali, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed.