DHAKA: Bangladesh bowlers sent back two Pakistan openers before lunchtime in the second and last test in two-match series in Mirpur on Wednesday.
Pakistan have scored 68 runs for two in 26.1 over till filing of this report. The match began at 10:00am Bangladesh time at Shere-bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Mohammad Hafeez opened the Pakistan innings while Sami Aslam assisted him.
Bangladesh’s Mohammad Shahid had removed Hafeez in the third ball of the fourth over before Pakistan reached the double digit.
Azhar Ali joined opener Sami Aslam after the fall of Hafeez’s wicket.
Bangladesh hit again. Taijul Islam sent back Sami Aslam when Pakistan have scored 58 runs in the fifth ball of 23rd over.
Azhar Ali and Younis Khan are at the crease with 34 and 1 respectively.
Shahadat Hossain replaced the injured Rubel Hossain's spot in Bangladesh's XI. The big decision is whether to pick the defensive option of a batting allrounder - Shuvagata Hom - or the more attacking one of a legspinner - Jubair Hossain.
Mohamamd Hafeez was 136 short of 3000 Test runs. He also needs three wickets to make it to 50 wickets.
In Khulna, Tamim and Imrul not only broke a 55-year old record for the highest opening partnership in the second innings of a Test match, they also broke the record for the largest deficit (296 runs) wiped out without losing a wicket.
The Mirpur pitch is likely to play like the one in Khulna did. It will provide another run feast but there are chances of cracks developing later in the game. The forecast is for high temperatures and the chance of rain is remote.
Bangladesh Team
Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim*†, Soumya Sarkar, Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Mohammad Shahid
Pakistan Team
Sami Aslam, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan
** Shahid removes Hafeez
BDST: 1205 HRS, MAY 06, 2015
HB/RS