Staff Reporter :
Hosts Bangladesh scored 253 for the loss of four wickets in their first innings against Pakistan on day 1 of the first Test match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Friday.
Bangladesh had a sorrow start as opener Saif Hassan (14) was caught at the short leg by Abid Ali off Shaheen Shah Afridi when the hosts total was 19.
Shadman Islam, the other opener (14) was trapped leg before wicket by Hasan Ali when the home side’s score was 33 for the loss of two wickets.
Second-down Mominul Haque (6) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off Sajid Khan when the Tigers’ total was 47 for the loss of three wickets.
One-down Najmul Hossain Shanto ( 14) was caught at the point by Sajid Khan off Faheem Ashraf when Bangladesh’s score was 49 for the loss of four wickets.
Then, ace batsman Mushfiqur Rahim and his partner Liton Das rescued their team from danger contributing together 204 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership before the two umpires pocketed the bails for the first day.
Liton Das struck a maiden century in his Test campaign.
Liton remained unbeaten with 113 runs. He hit 11 fours and a sixer in his 225-ball innings. Liton fulfilled his career best century using 199 deliveries including 10 fours and a sixer.
Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten with 82 runs. His 190-ball innings saw 10 fours.
Mushfiqur Rahim reached his 24th Test half-century playing 108 balls with eight fours.
Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sajid Khan took one wicket each conceding 38, 38, 50 and 68 runs respectively.
Today the second day match of the first Test will start at 9.45am.
BSS adds: “At this moment, Bangladesh are in good position but our batters are in a good form and they have the ability to score better on this track (whatever
total Bangladesh put on,” Hasan Ali said after the day’s game.
The fast bowler who also took one wicket on the day heaped praise on Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das, who jointly brought Bangladesh back on track after a disastrous start.
“We had a good first session by taking early wickets. But we should appreciate the way Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim batted. They played really well.”
Even though Liton and Mushfiqur looked solid in the pitch, Hasan Ali believes if they can bowl in good areas consistently, they will get the desired breakthrough on the second day.
“It’s a slow pitch and we need to bowl in good areas to get breakthrough (early on the second day)” he added.
