UNB, Khulna :
Bangladesh started well in the first Test against Pakistan in their two-match Dan Cake Test Cricket Series scoring 236 for 4, at stumps, on the first day at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on Tuesday.
Spurred by the third wicket stand of 95 runs in 33.4 overs, between Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah, the Tigers piled up the score for three wickets in 89.5 overs, opened the innings with bat as coin favoured the hosts.
Mominul Haque’s team highest 80 off 162 involved eight fours, before he was trapped lbw by Zulfiqar Babar in the penultimate delivery of the first day.
With this score Mominul completed the journey of 10 successive half centuries, including 2 hundreds, in the longer version of cricket in his 13-match career.
In the opening of the innings, Bangladesh lost opener Tamim Iqbal (25 off 74b, 3X4) at teams 52 runs in 27 overs, as he was caught by Azhar Ali off Yasir Shah’s delivery. In the mean time, Tamim-Imrul Kayes pair managed to contribute 52 runs.
After the dismissal of Tamim, Mominul stayed well with Imrul, but Imrul was departed at 92/2 in 40.2 overs, as he was caught and bowled by Mohammad Hafeez scoring 51 off 130 balls with six fours. The second wicket pair contributed 40 runs in 13.2 overs.
Mominul continued his composure pairing with number four Mahmudullah who scored 49 off 123 including six fours and was caught by Sarfraz Ahmed off a Wahab Riaz’s bowling at 187/3 in 74 overs.
The world best all rounder Shakib Al Hasan was batting on scoring 19 off 53 with two fours when the bails drawn for the first day at 236/4 in 89.5 overs.
Mohammad Shahid and Soumya Sarkar made their Test debuts for Bangladesh in the match while Sami Aslam debuts for Pakistan.
Brief score:
Bangladesh first innings: 236/4, at stumps, in 89.5 overs; Mominul Haque 80, Imrul Kayes 51, Mahmudullah 49, Tamim Iqbal 25, Shakib Al Hasan not out 19, Mohammad Hafeez 1/ 38, Wahab Riaz 1/40, Zulfiqar Babar 1/55, Yasir Shah 1/58.
