Umar, Azhar hit half-centuries in Dhaka Test

DHAKA: Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali hit half-centuries as Pakistan reached 139-1 in their first innings at lunch in reply to Bangladesh’s 338 on the third day of the second and final Test in Dhaka on Monday.

Left-handed opener Umar was unbeaten on 66 at the break for his second successive Test half-century while Azhar was 52 not out as the tourists added 52 runs to their overnight total of 87-1 after a delayed start due to fog.

The pair have so far put on 116 runs for the unbroken second-wicket stand.

Umar, who scored 61 in the opening Test in Chittagong, completed his 13th half-century in 37 Tests with a single of paceman Nazmul Hossain. He has so far cracked nine fours in his 141-ball knock.

Azhar, who hit fast bowler Shahadat Hossain for two fours in the opening over of the day, reached his 12th Test half-century with a boundary off left-arm spinner Elias Sunny in the last over of the morning session.

Bangladesh had a chance to remove Umar on 56, but wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim did not even try to effect a stumping off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan while confidently appealing for a catch down the leg-side.

Pakistan lead 1-0 in the series after winning the opening Test by an innings and 184 runs.

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Shakib, Nafees lead Bangladesh’s fightback

DHAKA: Shakib Al Hasan cracked a career-best 108 not out and Shahriar Nafees hit a solid 97 to lead Bangladesh’s recovery on the opening day of the second and final Test against Pakistan in Dhaka on Saturday.

Bangladesh were struggling at 43-4 following paceman Aizaz Cheema’s three-wicket burst in the morning before reaching 234-5 in their first innings at stumps, thanks to Shakib and Nafees.

The left-handed pair applied themselves remarkably well to deny Pakistan any success for 51 overs as they added 180 runs, Bangladesh’s highest stand for the fifth wicket in Tests.

Nafees looked set to complete his second Test century before falling in the last session, caught behind off his gloves off paceman Umar Gul after hitting 12 fours in his 177-ball knock.

Former captain Shakib moved from 89 to 100 in one over off Gul and completed his second Test hundred when he cut the paceman for a single. His previous best was 100 against New Zealand in Hamilton last year.

Shakib has so far hit 14 fours, including three in an over off Cheema, in his 168-ball knock.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on five when bad light stopped play.

Nafees, who swept and pulled off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for two fours in an over, reached his seventh Test half-century when he fluently drove Gul through the covers for a boundary.

Bangladesh were in deep trouble in the morning as Cheema grabbed three wickets in a sharp eight-over opening spell after the tourists won the toss and elected to field.

Cheema dismissed opener Mohammed Nazimuddin and Mohammad Mahmudullah for no score, and Nasir Hossain for seven runs while Gul removed Tamim Iqbal for 14 in helpful conditions after a delayed start due to fog.

Nazimuddin, who scored 31 and 78 on his debut in the last Test in Chittagong, failed to open his account this time as he was trapped leg-before by Cheema in the second over of the day.

Tamim hit two successive fours off Gul before falling to the same bowler, caught hooking at fine-leg by Cheema, while Mahmudullah was bowled by a delivery that cut in sharply.

Pakistan retained the side that won the opening Test by an innings and 184 runs, while Bangladesh brought in pacemen Robiul Islam and Nazmul Hossain in place of Mohammad Ashraful and Rubel Hossain.

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Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final to be played under lights

KARACHI: Pakistan will again hold the final of its premier first-class tournament under floodlights this month as part of the International Cricket Council’s efforts to introduce day and night test matches.

A senior PCB official told Reuters the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final would be played from Dec. 20-24 at the national stadium with pink balls being used in the match.

“The decision to make the Quaid Trophy final a day and night affair has been taken because the ICC is keen to see its member countries experiment with using the pink ball and have day and night matches,” Saqib Irfan said.

The PCB also held the previous final of its premier tournament under the lights earlier this year.

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