Thursday, March 28, 2024

Afridi, Abbas & Haris give Pakistan edge over Bangladesh in 1st Test

Afridi, Abbas & Haris give Pakistan edge over Bangladesh in 1st Test
February 8, 2020
RAWALPINDI – Bangladesh lost their openers in the first two overs of the day and never fully recovered as their batsmen failed to build on starts, bundled out for 233 in their first innings of the first Test in Rawalpindi. Shaheen Shah Afridi had debutant Saif Hassan edging behind off the third ball for a duck, while opener Tamim Iqbal was given out lbw to Mohammad Abbas on review the next over. Despite the efforts of the middle order, led by Mohammad Mithun's fighting half-century, the visitors were dismissed in the final few overs of Friday. Afridi finished with 4/53, while Abbas and left-arm spinner Haris Sohail picked up two wickets each, validating their captain's decision to bowl first. Poor light meant Pakistan didn't come out to bat. Three half-century partnerships, between Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto for the third wicket, Mithun and Liton Das for the sixth wicket, and Mithun and Taijul Islam for the seventh offered Bangladesh hope of revival. They chose to attack the wayward Yasir Shah and Naseem Shah but having done the hard work of getting their eye in, they couldn't capitalise. Afridi, taken for two fours in an over, got his own back in the next when he tempted Mominul into a drive, only for him to edge behind. Shanto paid for a lapse in concentration right after lunch, before Asad Shafiq dived to his right to take an excellent catch of Mahmudullah at slip. Liton and Mithun were playing positive cricket, when Haris' left-arm spin turned the game Pakistan's way again, trapping Liton in front against the run of play. He struck another telling blow, tempting Taijul into an expansive shot. Even as Mithun attempted to add quick runs on his way to 63, which included seven fours and a six, Afridi cleaned up the tail in the final hour of the day. The innings had lasted 82.5 overs. –ICC