With Pakistan firmly in control, building a lead of 280 runs, all Bangladesh have in the first Test in Chittagong is just some hopes, vice-captain Mahmudullah said after second day’s play on Saturday.
‘We’ve nothing to do but to hope for the best,’ Mahmudullah told a news conference. ‘As we could not bat well in the first innings so we have to hope for the best in the second innings. If we could not set our mind that way, we can’t do well.’
Pakistan tightened their grip on the first Test capping another day of domination on the field as Younis Khan (96 not out) closed in on a century after Mohammad Hafeez hit a career-best 143.
The visitors, resuming on 132-0, reached 415-4 after bowling out Bangladesh for 135 in batting-friendly wicket on the opening day.
Bangladesh hoped to pick up some momentum after two wickets in the second session, but Younis added 104 runs in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Asad Shafiq (40 not out) to keep Pakistan always in command.
Mahmudullah acknowledged it was completely a batting wicket and there is not much hope for the bowlers.
‘There is not much turn. In the first session there was some turn but after the lunch break there was not much turn,’ said the off-spinner, who gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough, ending a 164-run opening stand between Hafeez and Taufiq Umar.
‘Spinners are our main strength but they could not gain any turn and bite from the wicket. It’s a completely batting wicket,’ said Mahmudullah, still remorseful for the opportunity they wasted on the first day with the bat.
‘Everything goes right in the practice but we couldn’t apply it in the match. We
can’t understand during the match what we’ll do or what we’ll not. So our shot selections also went wrong.
‘Hope if we can do well in the second innings, we can bounce back in the match. Everything is depending on the second innings. We’ve to progress in the second innings anyhow,’ he said.
Mahmudullah was hoping to learn it form Pakistan.
‘They were very compact in the first innings. They played in a disciplined way. The way they left the ball and the way they played shots, we could learn many things from them,’ he said.
‘Throughout the ODI series we could not bat well. When you bat well, your shot selection, your mind set-up, your mental toughness, your skill will be up to the mark.’
‘When you will be positive mentally, your shot selection will go right. Now we have nothing to do but to hope for the best,’ said Mahmudullah.
-With New Age input
