At the Rawalpindi Cricket Ground, Bangladesh bowled out Pakistan for 274 on the second day of the second Test, an exciting day of cricket. With sufficient assistance from Taskin Ahmed (3 for 57), Mehidy Hasan shone at the plate, recording a five-fer (5 for 61).
Three Pakistani batsmen, Shan Masood (58), Saim Ayub (57), and Salman Ali Agha (54), all achieved half-centuries, but they will be unhappy with their inability to build on their early success. Prior to stumping, Bangladesh managed to bat out a few of difficult overs without losing a wicket.
Pakistan’s innings began horribly as they were put to bat first by Bangladesh. Taskin Ahmed defeated Abdullah Shafique in his comeback test after skilfully setting him up. As the moisture evaporated from the surface, making it easier to bat on, Shan Masood and Saim Ayub put on a 107-run partnership, with both batsmen scoring fifty runs.
Throughout the first hour, the bowlers were reliable in shaping the ball to move away from the batters and into the right shape, but to no effect. Masood and Ayub skilfully rotated the strike, taking advantage of wayward deliveries to run a lot of twos and threes because the boundaries were larger. Pakistan finished the first session at 99 for 1, with to two sixes from Ayub over square leg and long on.
Mehidy caught Masood leg-before as he tried to play across the line, and soon after lunch, Bangladesh stormed back.
After dancing to Mehidy down the track after Ayub brought up his fifty with a pull off Nahid Rana to the boundary, Mehidy hit a careless shot that left him stumped.
Following the two quick wickets, Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam started to bolster each other. Taskin was hit hard by Shakeel, who made two deliveries through square for four before chopping on two more. Shakib trapped Babar in front, who had maintained a casual look during his knock. Babar has now gone 15 innings without scoring a half-century in a Test match.
The seasoned all-rounder nearly had two in the over as he got Salman’s inside edge, which was grassed at short leg. Pakistan entered the Tea phase at 183 for 5. Mushfiqur Rahim, a tourist, hobbled off, an injury gripping his shoulder; perhaps, it was just a small fright.
Nahid Rana, a 21-year-old fast bowler, took use of his height to strike the deck in his first over, causing the hitters considerable trouble. Mohammed Rizwan, taken aback by the added pace and bounce, finally gave his effort credit when he edged a back-of-a-length throw to slip.
Having failed to obtain the necessary elevation, Khurram Shahzad was dropped at slip on nine, but his luck did not hold as he found Shakib at mid-off off Mehidy. Mohammed Ali, who was devoured at the first slip, was Mehidy’s fourth.
Salman was caught at slip after edging a ball onto his pads, and he struck it fortunate once more. However, Bangladesh was now down to zero reviews. After that, he farmed the strike and gave out a few maximums, hitting one to bring up his fifty. Getting Salman to draw the ball to fine leg allowed Taskin to score his third.
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After entertaining the audience with a four and a six, Abrar Ahmed was stumped off Mehidy. Pakistan was knocked out for 274 after the offspinner hit a five-fer. Entertainment ensued as Bangladesh batted for two overs. Shakeel dropped the opening ball at gully to Shadman Islam, and Zakir Hasan nearly sliced one back onto the stumps.
India
