Shadman Islam Falls Agonizingly Short of Century as Bangladesh Stays Competitive Against Pakistan in Rawalpindi
Shadman Islam Falls Agonizingly Short of Century as Bangladesh Stays Competitive Against Pakistan in Rawalpindi: Opening batter Shadman Islam succumbed to the nervous nineties, however, his innings helped his side to finish the third day’s play in the first cricket Test against Pakistan at a formidable 316 for five in reply to Pakistan’s 448 for six declared at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Shadman was cleaned up by fast bowler Mohammad Ali after scoring an impressive and elegant 93 at Bangladesh’s score of 199 for four. But the 98-run unbroken sixth wicket stand between Mushfiqur Rahim (55) and Litton Das (52) helped the tourists to reduce the first innings deficit to 132 runs with five wickets standing.
Mushfiqur’s 122-ball innings is studded with seven fours, while Litton has faced 58 balls and struck eight fours and a six. The two batters took full advantage of the tired Pakistan bowlers in the final session of an extended play by hitting some delightful strokes as the visitors added 117 runs in 26 overs.
Shadman, who featured in two Bangladesh ‘A’ v Pakistan Shaheens four-day matches in Darwin, Australia, faced 183 balls and struck 12 fours. It was his third half-century in 14th Test.
Bangladesh had resumed their first innings at 27 for no loss and slipped to 53 for two before Shadman and Mominul Haque rebuilt the innings with a 94-run third wicket partnership. Mominul scored 50 off 76 balls with five fours, before his off stump was sent on a walk by Khurram Shahzad, who finished the day with two for 47.
Pakistan bowlers toiled on a hot day and on a surface that didn’t offer as much assistance as on the first day. Out of the 92 overs Bangladesh has faced to date, Pakistan’s spinners bowled 20 overs with Saim Ayub picking up a wicket in his first over in Test cricket by dismissing Shakib Al Hasan (15).
Fast bowler Naseem Shah has been the most expensive bowler of Bangladesh’s first innings to date with figures of 20-4-77-1. Shaheen Shah Afridi was wicketless in figures of 18-3-55-0, while Mohammad Ali had figures of 15-2-42-1.
Scores in brief (day 3 of 5):
Pakistan (1st innings) 448-6d (Mohammad Rizwan 171 not out, Saud Shakeel 141, Saim Ayub 56, Shaheen Shah Afridi 29 not out; Hasan Mahmud 2-70, Shoriful Islam 2-77
Bangladesh (1st innings) 316-5, 92 overs (Shadman Islam 93, Mushfiqur Rahim 55, Litton Das 52, Mominul Haque 50; Khurram Shahzad 2-47)
