Nasir, Rahim defy Pakistan’s attack

DHAKA: Nasir Hossain hit a maiden Test half-century to keep Pakistan’s attack at bay as Bangladesh reached 200-5 in their second innings at lunch on the last day of the second and final Test on Wednesday.

The hosts, who conceded a 132-run lead, were 68 runs ahead with five wickets in hand, with Nasir unbeaten on 76 with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (40 not out).

The last pair of specialist batsmen have so far put on 105 runs for the unbroken sixth-wicket stand to deny the tourists success in the morning session with their sensible batting under pressure.

Bangladesh added 86 runs off 29 overs to their overnight total of 114-5 after a delayed start due to fog.

Playing only his fourth Test, Nasir has so far hit 11 fours in his 155-ball knock and Rahim six boundaries in a 101-ball innings.

Nasir began impressively as he hit paceman Aizaz Cheema for two successive fours in the bowler’s opening spell before reaching his half-century with two runs to deep square-leg off off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

He gave a difficult chance on 51 off fast bowler Umar Gul, but Azhar Ali failed to hold on to the ball at gully.

Rahim waited patiently for loose deliveries to punish, turning Ajmal to fine-leg and then fluently driving the spinner through the covers for fours before slashing Cheema over the slips for a boundary.

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

Read more »

Posted in: SPORTS

Pakistan eye sweep despite Shakib show

DHAKA: Umar Gul and Aizaz Cheema each took two wickets to boost Pakistan’s chances of winning the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Tuesday despite Shakib Al Hasan’s superb all-round display.

The hosts were struggling at 114-5 in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day after conceding a lead of 132, with paceman Gul bagging two wickets off successive balls and Cheema finishing the day with 2-41.

Nasir Hossain was unbeaten on 30 with Mushfiqur Rahim on seven not out.

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

Gul dismissed free-scoring Tamim Iqbal (21) and Shahriar Nafees for no score with his last two balls before the tea break after Pakistan were bowled out for 470 in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh’s 338.

Tamim, who hit Cheema for three fours in an over, looked surprised when adjudged caught by skipper Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip while attempting to hook Gul, as TV replays suggested the ball had come off the helmet.

Shakib, who smashed a career-best 144 in the first innings, also impressed as a left-arm spinner as he took 6-82 to become the first Bangladeshi to score a century and bag five or more wickets in a Test.

He took five of the seven Pakistani wickets to fall in the day to complete his ninth haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings.

Misbah earlier made an impressive 70 and Adnan Akmal hit 53 for his maiden Test half-century as Pakistan batted steadily in the opening two sessions after resuming at 292-3.

Younis Khan (49), Asad Shafiq (42) and Abdur Rehman (24) were the other main scorers.

Bangladesh’s fielding remained below par as they let off Misbah and Shafiq in the opening session and Akmal in the second after having dropped three catches on Monday.

Misbah played handsome shots in his 14th Test half-century, driving paceman Nazmul Hossain through the covers and then straight for two successive fours before twice reverse-sweeping left-arm spinner Elias Sunny for boundaries.

But he was lucky to survive soon after completing his 50 as Robiul Islam dropped an easy catch at mid-on off Shakib. He eventually fell sweeping, caught by Mohammad Mahmudullah in the slips off Shakib.

The Pakistani skipper hit 11 fours in his 123-ball knock.

Shafiq started impressively, cutting and flicking paceman Shahadat Hossain for two boundaries in an over before being trapped leg-before by seamer Robiul.

Sunny got a wicket with his second delivery of the day when he had Younis caught behind. He had a chance to take another wicket but Mahmudullah dropped Shafiq on 36.

Read more »

Posted in: SPORTS

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.

Read more »

Posted in: SPORTS