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29 March 2024

Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test Day 3: Pak in control as Hafeez hits maiden double century

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez plays a shot during the second day of the first cricket Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at The Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on April 29, 2015. (AFP)

Published
By Agencies

Mohammad Hafeez struck his maiden Test double hundred as Pakistan feasted on Bangladesh's limited bowling resources to post a commanding 537 for five wickets on day three and take charge of the opening Test at Khulna on Thursday.

Hafeez struck 224 off 332 balls as Pakistan, resuming on 227-1 in reply to Bangladesh's first innings total of 332, wiped out the deficit by lunch before stretching lead with five of their top seven batsmen crossing the 50-mark.

Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed were unbeaten on 51 each at stumps with the visitors 205 runs ahead and looking in full control with five wickets in hand at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.

Resuming on his overnight score of 137, Hafeez continued punishing the Bangladesh bowlers and he slowed down only after reaching 190.

He drove Mohammad Shahid for a boundary to reach 198 but could not score off the next 11 balls. He reached the mark against Taijul Islam, scampering for two before taking off his helmet and kissing the turf in a restrained celebration.

Hafeez, who fell three runs short of the 200-mark against New Zealand at Sharjah in November, added 227 runs for the second wicket with Azhar Ali (83) who was bowled by off-spinner Shuvagata Hom.

Next man in Younus Khan (33) was also looking good but was beaten by a Taijul delivery which spun past his bat and hit the top of his off-stump.

Hafeez fell to a soft dismissal after hitting 23 boundaries and three sixes, fluffing his sweep shot and gloving a poor down-the-leg delivery from Shuvagata to the leg-slip fielder.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (59) opened his account hitting Taijul for a six and went on to bring up his 27th test fifty before becoming the left-arm spinner's third victim in the match.

Tea

Mohammad Hafeez scored a career-best 224 as Pakistan, replying to Bangladesh's first innings total of 332, moved to 421 for four by tea on the third day of the first Test in Khulna on Thursday.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq was unbeaten on 43 and Asad Shafiq was on six, with Pakistan leading by 89 runs with six wickets in hand.

Resuming after lunch at 333 for two, Pakistan lost the wickets of Younis Khan (33) and Hafeez, who was caught at leg-slip off Shuvagata Hom shortly before tea.

Lunch

Mohammad Hafeez was 10 runs away from a maiden double-century as Pakistan easily surpassed Bangladesh's first innings total of 332 on the third day of the first Test in Khulna on Thursday.

Hafeez was unbeaten on 190 as Pakistan moved to 333 for two by lunch at the Sheikh Abu Naser stadium and set to build a huge lead with eight wickets in hand.

Hafeez has so far hit 19 boundaries and three sixes as he closed in on his career-best score of 197, made in Pakistan's previous Test against New Zealand in Sharjah last November.

Azhar Ali was the lone batsman dismissed in the morning session after Pakistan resumed at 227-1.

Having taken his overnight score of 65 to 83, Azhar was bowled by Shuvagata Hom to end a 227-run partnership for the second wicket with Hafeez.

Younis Khan kept Hafeez company at lunch on 31, the pair having added 56 for the third wicket.

Bangladesh took the field without captain and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who had injured a finger while attempting to take a catch on the second day.

Imrul Kayes kept wickets and the captaincy was handed to Tamim Iqbal, whose review for a leg-before appeal when Hafeez was on 173 was turned down by both the on-field and TV umpires.

The second and final Test of the short series will start at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka on May 6.

Bhatti to replace Rahat

Allrounder Bilawal Bhatti will fill in for injured paceman Rahat Ali for the second Test on Pakistan's troubled tour of Bangladesh, an official said Wednesday.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Bhatti will fly from Sri Lanka to Bangladesh in time for the second Test starting in Dhaka from May 6.

"The national selection committee, in consultation with the team management in Bangladesh, has announced Bhatti as a replacement for the injured Rahat in the Pakistan Test squad," a PCB release said.

Bhatti, 23, is currently touring Sri Lanka with the Pakistan 'A' team (a second string team) and will join the national team in time for the second Test match.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are currently playing the first of two Tests in Khulna which started on Tuesday.
Pakistan have been plagued with injuries both before and during the tour.

Batsman Sohaib Maqsood (arm fracture) and paceman Sohail Khan (back problems) were ruled out even before the tour started.

They were joined on the sidelines by pacemen Ehsan Adil and Rahat (hamstring issues) while leg-spinner Yasir Shah recovered from a thumb injury which forced him to miss the preceding one-day series.

On the field Pakistan suffered their worst-ever 3-0 whitewash in the one-day series - their first against Bangladesh.

They also lost the only Twenty20 against Bangladesh, prompting the PCB to call for a review of frequent injuries and poor performance once the tour finishes.