Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez hit a career best 224 to put tourists in a commanding position against Bangladesh in the opening of the two-match Test series at Khulna on Thursday. Pakistan piled up a mammoth 537 for 5 at stumps on the third day of the first Test in reply to Tigers 332 to take a lead of 205 runs in their first innings with five wickets in hand. Bangladesh had to pay the price for their poor bowling coupled by negative mindset to help the tourists get a grip on the match as the hosts managed to pick only four wickets in three sessions.
Hafeez, resuming on 137, toiled with the bowlers to make a chanceless double-hundred and was ably supported by his partners, who left him to play his natural game by accompanying him at the other end.
The opener smashed 23 fours and three sixes in his 332-ball knock before he was dismissed by off-spinner Shuvagata Hom as his miss-hit sweep was held by Mahmudullah at leg slip.
Azhar Ali scored 83 while captain Misbah-ul-Haq hit 59 on a day when Tigers struggled and could not create any problems on an unthreatening wicket.
Bangladesh’s misery furthered as skipper Mushfiqur Rahim could not feature in the day’s play due to his sustained finger pain that he received trying to hold a diving catch on the second day.
Stand-in skipper Tamim Iqbal did try to put some pressure on the opponents by trying to stop the stem of runs but it eventually backfired as they did not lose their head.
Instead they waited for the bad balls to arrive, which were available in plenty and the decision to charge Sakib-al-Hasan also went in their favour.
Mushfiq is expected to bat in the second innings though he said that the pain was not relieved as per his expectations.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh with 3 for 116 and off-spinner Shuvagoto Hom returned with figures of 2 for 112.
Hafeez shared three significant partnerships to establish Pakistan’s dominance, adding 227 with Azhar, 62 with Younis Khan and 63 with Misbah.
Azhar scored a patient 83 off 177 balls, hitting four fours and one six before he became Hom’s first victim.
Younis Khan made 33 and looked set for a big innings until playing a lazy shot against left-arm spinner Taijul Islam to be clean bowled.
Misbah showed an urgency to increase the run rate, striking four fours and two sixes before getting dismissed to a sweep shot against Taijul.
While Sarfraz picked up a half-century in quick fashion — hitting four fours and two sixes off just 53 balls, his partner Asad Shafiq earned his 11th half-century off 98 balls. Both remained not out on identical 51 runs at the end of day’s play.
-With New Age input
