After strong performances in ODI series & one off T20 it was expected of Bangladesh team to put a strong performance in test matches as well. In the first innings Bangladesh had a good start as plenty of their batters got starts but no one able to prolong the batting effort & faced a mini collapse on second day when they lost last 6 wickets for less than 100 runs & bundled out for 332 runs; as Wahab Riaz & Yasir Shah shared 3 wickets each.
Pakistan also started well in their first inning. Dominated by aggressive Mohamad Hafeez who scored his 1st double Hundred in test cricket with support from Azhar Ali, Misbah, Asad Shafiq & Sarfaraz Ahmed as all notched up 50’s. Pakistan ended their first innings on mammoth 628 runs & taking a match winning lead of 296 runs. This type of lead maximizes the chances of winning for any team but Bangladeshi openers have different ideas.
Tamim Iqbal & Imrul Kais both strated their innings well as Imrul played cautiously whereas Tamim attacked Pakistani bowling from word go. Both the openers put up a record 300 runs opening partnership for Bangladesh. With Tamim getting his 1st double hundred & Imrul scored 150 runs also his career best innings so far.
Shakib 76 notout, Mahmudullah 40 & Sumaya Sarkar 33 also played well to take Bangladeshi score up to 555 runs for the loss of 6 wickets; when both captains decided to end play as Bangladesh secured lead of 259 runs & only 16 overs of the days play remains. Tamim Iqbal was named man of the match for his match saving attacking double ton. It was Tamim’s 3rd consecutive 100 in last 3 test matches. Second test match will starts from 6th May, 2015 in Dhaka.
By Ehsan Muhammad Khan. Writer is keen cricket follower, he tweets as @ehsanmkhan & blogs as readwithehsan.