Bangladesh batsmen keep fighting

 

Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Abbas tormented the Bangladesh batsmen on the first day of the Rawalpidi Test on Friday but the Tigers have still managed to have a decent score on board thanks to a number of patient partnerships.

At the close of the second session, the visiting side now have 172 for 6.

Shaheen proved to be a menace from the start, first removing debutant Saif Hasan in the innings’ third ball for a duck and later coming to get rid of Mominul when the Bangladesh skipper looked to make a big partnership with Najmul.

In the second over, Mohammad Abbas trapped Tamim Iqbal, who a few days back became only the second Bangladeshi to hit a triple century in a first class match, leg before to leave the visitors two wickets down on three.

Mominul and Najmul then repaired some damage, with the former contributing 30 in 59 balls, thanks to five fours.

 

Najmul went to lunch with 44, only to return to the crease to give a catch to the wicketkeeper off An Abbas delivery. The one-down batsman hit six fours while Mahmudullah added 25 before falling to Shaheen.

Mohammad Mithun and Liton Das then added 54 in the sixth wicket to take the team forward, a stand that was broken by Haris Sohail, who had a successful review after the umpire turned down his initial appeal for LBW.

Liton hit seven fours in his 33-run knock. Mithun has shown commendable patience, he is unbeaten on 30, but played 89 balls this far. - Collected from "Prothom Alo"