Babar Azam scored his 19th half-century and added an undefeated 91 run stand for the third wicket with Azhar Ali to plot Pakistan’s recovery before bad light ensured not a ball could be bowled in the final session. In the 57 overs that were possible, Pakistan reached 161 for 2.
Pakistan threatened to start off in Dhaka in the same way they finished in Chattogram as openers Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique got going quickly after Babar won the toss and opted to bat. Mominul Haque expected the early overcast conditions to assist his quicks but that wasn’t to be.
Bangladesh welcomed back Shakib Al Hasan as well as fast bowler Khaled Ahmed who was entrusted with the task alongside Ebadot to make early inroads. But he offered width outside the off stump to Abid, who dispatched two such deliveries to the boundary behind point.
The home side pacers went through a phase where they tried too hard and ended up erring with lengths as the Pakistan openers collected fours to get their partnership going. They didn’t have much restraint against spinners Taijul Islam and Shakib either when the opportunities came up, as the Pakistan pair took the team to 54 for 0 after the first-hour mark.
But they still couldn’t add to their stands of 146 and 151 in Chattogram, as Taijul swung into action and unfurled a few smart variation. One such variation, a delivery that just went with Taijul’s round-the-wicket angle, breached the bat-pad gap and sent Shafique packing for a 50-ball 25. An identical delivery came with Abid’s name on it, as he chopped it onto the stumps soon after. But from 61 for 2, Babar and Azhar revived Pakistan’s innings with a lot of comfort and style.
Mominul persisted with Taijul even after the Lunch break but his left-arm spinner returned empty-handed. Similar was the fate of his two other spinners – Shakib and Mehidy Hasan and Babar and Azhar took Pakistan past the 100-run mark. The 20-minute break that came through passing showers was the only respite that Bangladesh could get in a session of toil.
After the break, the play was first delayed due to bad light and eventually had to be called off as the overhead conditions failed to improve.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 161/2 (Babar Azam 60*, Abid Ali 39; Taijul Islam 2-49) vs Banglades.
