KHULNA: Opener Mohammad Hafeez led Pakistan’s strong reply with his third hundred in as many Tests after Bangladesh lost their last five wickets for 27 runs on the second day of the first Test at Khulna on Wednesday.

Hafeez remained unbeaten on 137 with Pakistan reaching 227 for one in their first innings at stumps after Bangladesh were all out for 332 at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. Azhar Ali was also not out on 65.

Bangladesh resumed on Wednesday on 236 for four and went past 300 riding on a half-century stand for the sixth wicket between captain Mushfiqur Rahim and debutant Soumya Sarkar.

Soumya and Mushfiqur fell in consecutive overs as Bangladesh collapsed from 305-5 to 332 all out.

Paceman Wahab Riaz and leg-spinner Yasir Shah finished with three wickets each for Pakistan.

The tourists finally enjoyed a successful day on an otherwise miserable tour, where they were whitewashed 3-0 in the one-day series and lost to Bangladesh for the first time in a Twenty20 International

Hafeez, who also picked up two wickets, added 50 for the opening wicket with debutant left-hander Sami Aslam (20), who was given out caught behind off Taijul Islam after Mushfiqur successfully reviewed the umpire’s not-out verdict.

Sami, who captained Pakistan’s under-19 team before making the grade at senior level, had looked confidence during stay at the crease.

Mushfiqur, however, dropped Azhar on 11 and 28, the second one forcing him to leave the field with an injured finger.

Mushfiqur left the field after tea, leaving Imrul Kayes to don the gloves as Tamim Iqbal took over the captaincy.

Hafeez, who successfully overturned the umpire’s caught behind decision against him on 13, brought up his eighth Test century with two consecutive fours off paceman Rubel Hossain before taking off his helmet and kissing the turf to celebrate the mark.

The 34-year-old right-hander had scored 96, 101 not out, 197 and 24 in his last four innings in Tests against New Zealand in United Arab Emirates in November.

Hafeez hit 12 fours and two sixes in his 179-ball knock and added 177 for the unbroken second wicket with Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar. It is Pakistan’s highest partnership for this wicket against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh employed eight bowlers but could not find a second breakthrough and are now 105 runs ahead.

Hafeez survived a narrow escape in the fourth over of the innings when TV umpire Paul Reiffel overturned a decision for a catch at the wicket off Taijul.

Azhar reached his half-century with a six off Shakib Al Hasan.

Pakistan’s spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed praised Hafeez, saying it was not easy to score runs on the slow pitch.

“Hafeez really batted well and showed his class,” Mushtaq said. “It was awesome the way he played on what is a slow wicket where it’s not easy to go for shots. We will obviously aim for a big total to put Bangladesh under pressure.”

Earlier, Yasir grabbed two of the four wickets that fell in the morning session as Bangladesh faltered against steady spin bowling by the Pakistanis.

The hosts lost the early wicket of star all-rounder Shakib, who was smartly caught at leg-slip by Asad Shafiq off slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar for 25.

Mushfiqur (32) and Soumya (33) put on 62 for the sixth wicket before Pakistan hit back with three wickets in the space of seven runs.

Soumya was dismissed by another good catch by Asad in the covers off Hafeez before Yasir had Mushfiqur caught in the covers and bowled Taijul round his legs.

Wahab returned after lunch to remove debutant Mohammad Shahid and last man Rubel Hossain quickly, leaving Shuvagata Hom unbeaten on 12.

Bangladesh had prospered on the opening day through Mominul Haque, who top-scored with 80, and useful contributions from opener Kayes (51) and Mohammad Mahmudullah (49).

Soumya admitted bad batting by the lower order had allowed Pakistan to dominate the day’s play.

“I think we batted badly today as compared to yesterday,” he said. “Pakistan bowled well but we put ourselves under pressure by not being able to score more runs.”

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 236-4):

Tamim Iqbal c Azhar b Yasir 25 Imrul Kayes c and b Hafeez 51 Mominul Haque lbw b Zulfiqar 80 M. Mahmudullah c Sarfraz b Wahab 49 Shakib Al Hasan c Asad b Zulfiqar 25 Mushfiqur Rahim c Misbah b Yasir 32 Soumya Sarkar c Asad b Hafeez 33 Shuvagata Hom not out 12 Taijul Islam b Yasir 1 Mohammad Shahid c Misbah b Wahab 10 Rubel Hossain c Sarfraz b Wahab 2

EXTRAS (LB-5, NB-7) 12

TOTAL (all out, 120 overs) 332

FALL OF WKTS: 1-52, 2-92, 3-187, 4-236, 5-243, 6-305, 7-310, 8-312, 9-329.

BOWLING: Junaid Khan 16-2-40-0 (2nb); Wahab Riaz 26-7-55-3 (5nb); Mohammad Hafeez 18-5-47-2; Zulfiqar Babar 32-3-99-2; Yasir Shah 28-4-86-3.

PAKISTAN (1st Innings):

Mohammad Hafeez not out 137 Sami Aslam c Mushfiqur b Taijul 20 Azhar Ali not out 65

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-3) 5

TOTAL (for one wkt, 58 overs) 227

Fall of wkt: 1-50.

TO BAT: Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan.

BOWLING (to-date): Rubel Hossain 11-0-50-0 (2nb); Mohammad Shahid 7-0-29-0 (1nb); Taijul Islam 16-2-43-1; Shuvagata Hom 8-0-34-0, Shakib Al Hasan 12-0-57-0; Mohammad Mahmudullah 2-0-9-0; Soumya Sarkar 1-0-2-0; Mominul Haque 1-0-1-0.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2015

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