Lackluster batting and even poorer efforts during the fielding on second day of the first Test match let Bangladesh suffer and took away the advantage they gained on the first day against Pakistan at Khulna on Wednesday. Mohammad Hafeez rubbed salt on their wound by providing them some lessons of batsmanship which they appeared to have lacked as he plundered an unbeaten 137 to give tourists the advantage.
Pakistan finished the day with 227-1, trailing by 105 runs with nine wickets in hand after the hosts were bundled out for 332 all-out earlier in the day resuming on 236-4.
Hosts seemed not to apply their senses during batting on a wicket where it was not difficult to stay as there was no real threat like venomous turn or prodigious swing.
Their lack of composure and loose shoots were gleefully expected by the visitors who improved their catching on the day.
As a result Bangladesh could add only 96 runs to their overnight total with the last five wickets falling for just 27 runs that left them dismissed for a modest score three overs into the lunch break.
Pakistan scored 227 off 58 overs and looking forward to pile up a huge total on the third day as Azhar Ali was not out on 65 with 137 of Hafeez.
Hosts’ bowlers were wayward in line and length and their butter fingered skipper, who dropped two easy catches, further helped Pakistan to take the control.
Debutant Soumya Sarkar vented his frustrations to reporters at Khulna on Wednesday.
‘We bowled in bad areas that let them make a comeback and we also failed to take some of our chances,’ said the all-rounder, indicating two catches dropped by Mushfiqur Rahim of Azhar Ali.
While Bangladesh failed to take their chances Pakistan made a strong comeback after being led by their bowlers.
They struck to their plans and ended getting better against Bangladesh batsmen who failed to keep their heads down while batting and invited the downfall.
All the three remaining recognised batsmen –Sakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Soumya– were dismissed for opting to attack the bowlers.
Soumya was quick to admit his fault.
‘I think I got out on the wrong time,’ ‘I think we batted badly today compared to yesterday. They bowled in good areas and we were unable to score runs putting pressure on ourselves,’ he said.
‘Yesterday we batted well but today we just could not manage to do so,’ said Soumya.
Sakib was the first to be dismissed in the day when he danced down the track only to find an inside edge off Zulfiqar Babar that was take by Asad Shafiq at leg slip.
Musfiq tried to play a cut shot on a short ball but could only able to just spoon it in the cover to Misbah-ul-Haque off the bowling of Yasir Shah .
Soumya on the other hand was caught at mid-off when Asad Shafiq took a brilliant catch coming from cover in the next over bowled by Hafeez.
‘I thought we won’t get wickets so easily but our bowlers did well and the fielders backed them,’ said Pakistan bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed.
‘It was a tactical plan and it paid off as far as fielding is concerned,’ he added.
‘We felt that we should keep our best fielders on their favoured place and better,’ said Mushtaq.
He also hailed coach Waqar Younis for the fielding success.
‘To avoid repeating the fielding mistakes Waqar made a plan to get the right fielder at the right place as you have to bring your special fielder to reduce the chances of mistake.’
-With New Age input
