Sports
Pakistan 99-1 at lunch against Bangladesh in second Test
Bangladesh captain Najam-ul-Hasan Shinto won the toss and decided to bowl first
Rawalpindi: Pakistan were 99-1 at lunch on the second day of the second Test against Bangladesh Saturday as they went in search of a series-leveling win in Rawalpindi.
Having lost the first Test by ten wickets, Pakistan received an early jolt when Abdullah Shafique was dismissed in the first over for nought after being sent in.
But skipper Shan Masood was unbeaten on 53 for his tenth Test half-century and Saim Ayub was on 43 – having added 99 for a sedate second wicket stand.
After the first day’s play was washed out Friday due to rain, Pakistan shone under a bright sun Saturday with solid batting.
Bangladesh’s Test victory last Sunday was their first over Pakistan in 14 attempts.
Masood, under pressure after scores of six and 14 in the first – as well as losing four Tests since being appointed captain last year – struck two boundaries in his 62-ball knock.
Fellow left-hander Ayub was more aggressive, hitting two sixes in addition to three boundaries.
Speedster Taskin Ahmed, brought in for unfit Shoriful Islam as Bangladesh’s only change, bowled Shafique off the sixth ball of the match.
Pakistan made two changes from the first Test, resting spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah to bring in pacer Mir Hamza and spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Bangladesh has won the toss and decided to bowl in the second and final Test of the two-match series against Pakistan.
On the first day of the Rawalpindi Test, the toss could not be done due to rain, but on the second day, the weather in the twin cities was clear and the sun was shining.
There was no rain in Rawalpindi Islamabad last night and there is no forecast of rain during the second day of Rawalpindi Test.
On the second day, Bangladesh captain Najam-ul-Hasan Shinto won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Groundsmen of Pindi Cricket Stadium yesterday started drying the outfield when the rain stopped.
Bangladesh has a 1-0 lead over Pakistan in the two-Test series.
On the second day, the lunch break will be at 12:00pm and the second session will start at 12:40pm while the tea break will be at 2:55pm and the third session will start at 3:15pm. This session will continue till 5:15pm.
The second day's play may also be extended by 30 minutes to complete the overs.
Additional input from AFP