Abid, Abdullah score fifties as Pakistan reach at 145 on day two

CHATTOGRAM (92 News) – Solid half-centuries by Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique saw Pakistan to a comfortable 145 for none in 57 overs against Bangladesh before fading light forced early stumps on day two of the first Test.

Abid was unbeaten on 93 and Abdullah, on his debut, brought up his maiden Test fifty with 52 not out. Abid’s had struck nine fours and two sixes off the 180 balls he faced, while Abdullah smashed two fours and as many sixes from 162 balls.

When the young debutant charged down the wicket to smoke Taijul Islam for a towering six down the ground to cross the 50-run mark, he became the only Pakistan opener to hit two maximums on Test debut.

Earlier, a searing spell from Hasan Ali restricted the hosts to 330 as the pacer picked up his fifth five-wicket haul at this level in 2021. He became the third Pakistan pacer to record five five-fors in a calendar year after the great Imran Khan (1982) and Waqar Younis (1990).

Hasan sent Liton Das packing at the start of the day and then wrapped up the tail inside the morning session as Bangladesh lost their remaining six wickets in the first session.

Pakistan’s Abid Ali will be eying his fourth first-class century in the last five outings, when the third play’s day begins on Sunday. Pakistan are 185 runs behind Bangladesh.

Scores in brief:

Bangladesh 330, 114.4 overs (Liton Das 114, Mushfiqur Rahim 91, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 38 not out; Hasan Ali 5-51, Faheem Ashraf 2-54, Shaheen Afridi 2-70)

Pakistan 145-0, 57 overs (Abid Ali 93 not out, Abdullah Shafiq 52 not out).