Gritty Fifties from Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel Anchor Pakistan on Rain-Hit Day One
Gritty Fifties from Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel Anchor Pakistan on Rain-Hit Day One: Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel displayed remarkable resilience, both scoring half-centuries to guide Pakistan to 158-4 in 41 overs on a rain-affected opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The start of play was delayed until the afternoon due to a wet outfield, causing the first session to be washed out.
Saud Shakeel (57* off 92 balls, 5 fours) and Mohammad Rizwan (24* off 31 balls, 2 fours) will resume Pakistan’s innings on day two.
After electing to bowl first, Bangladesh’s bowlers made early inroads, reducing Pakistan to 16-3 in 8.2 overs. Abdullah Shafique was the first to fall, caught at gully off Hasan Mahmud in the fourth over. Skipper Shan Masood, who managed just six runs, was dismissed by Shoriful Islam in the seventh over. Babar Azam followed soon after, falling for a two-ball duck to Shoriful with Litton Das taking his second catch.
With Pakistan in trouble, Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel steadied the innings with a 98-run partnership for the fourth wicket, spread across both sides of the tea break. Saim brought up his maiden Test fifty with a composed 56 off 98 balls, which included four boundaries and one six, before edging a delivery from Hasan to Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the slips in the 32nd over.
Saud, who contributed 42 runs in the partnership with Saim, added another 44 runs in an unbroken stand with Mohammad Rizwan before the close of play. For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets each.
Play on the second day is scheduled to begin at 9:45 AM.
Scores in brief: Pakistan 158-4, 41 overs (Saud Shakeel 57*; Saim Ayub 56; Mohammad Rizwan 24*; Shoriful Islam 2-30, Hasan Mahmud 2-33)
