Pakistan VS Bangladesh Alessa Holding Test Series
Played at Jahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chottogram (26-30 November) 2021
Brief Score Card at Stumps Day Two
Bangladesh 330 All Out (Liton K Das 114, Mushfiqur Rahim 91, Hasan Ali 5/51, Faheem Ashraf 2/54, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/70, Sajid Khan 1/68)
Pakistan 145 /0 in 57 Overs (Abid Ali 93*, Abdullah Shafique 52*)
The frailty of Bangladesh in test cricket got exposed yet again at ZAC, Chattogram yesterday. After having one good day in blue moon on day one Bangladesh got bundled out for 330 by lunch on day two. Then the four men toothless Bangladesh attack struggled for two sessions without any success. Pakistan spent the day scoring 145 without loss. On a wicket where Pakistani pacers caused Bangladesh batsmen huff and puff in the first sessions of day one and two Bangladeshi bowlers could hardly create any impression. The only opportunity that came the way was wasted when Mominul did not take DRS against debutant Abdullah Shafique. Bangladesh may have to do leather chasing on day three with very ordinary bowling attack.
Bangladesh started day two on even kill at 253/4. Liton was batting on 113 and Mushfique at 81. We wrote that first session of day two would indicate the direction the match was heading. The second new ball was still shiny. Hasan Ali started moving the ball sharply and Afridi appeared in his own self.
Liton was gone trapped in front to sharp in swinger of Hasan very early adding only 1 to his overnight tally (114). The ball that rocked debutant Yasir Ali was Zapper. Pitching on a length it moved sharply and disturbed the furniture through the gate. Suddenly Bangladesh started shaking. The only hope was Mushfique staying with the tail. Mushfique fell to Faheem in a bizarre manner. The bat seemed to have stuck in his pad when the ball passed creating a noise before going to Rizwan. Mushfique went for review. But was adjudged caught behind. From there on Bangladesh could not recover though Miraj batted reasonably well scoring unbeaten 38. But there was none to stay with him longer and he also could not farm strikes. 330 on such a wicket was perhaps not a big enough first innings score. Bangladesh lost 6 wickets for 77 runs in the first session of day two.
We thought playing any test match against a strong opposition batting with only 4 bowlers is an ultra-defensive strategy. On a wicket where three Pakistani pacers took 9 of the 10 wickets Bangladeshi pacers Zayed and Ebadat looked pretty ordinary. Taijul and Miraj also could leave no impression. Except when debutant Abdullah looked plumb in front on 9 given not out Bangladeshi bowlers could not even create any opportunity. Pakistani openers made hay while sun shined putting together unbroken 145. Abid Ali batted superbly for his 93 and debutant Abdullah recovered scoring unbeaten 52. Unless something happens dramatically in the first hour of day three the fate of the match would be written in black and blue by stumps on day three. Pakistan is already on the driving seat for dictating terms.
The skeleton of Bangladesh in test cricket was sadly exposed yet again. If Bangladesh looks so ordinary against Hasan Ali and Afridi on easy paced wicket how they would play Boult, Southe and Jamieson on pacey, swinging Kiwi condition in January 2022? It will not be pleasing to the eyes witnessing Bangladeshis leather chasing today at ZAC. Power packed Pakistan batting may toy with toothless Bangladesh attack. There should have been at least another spinning option as Shakib is not playing.
BDST: 1210 HRS, NOV 28, 2021
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