PAKISTAN finished day two of the second Test against Bangladesh on 87 for one to leave the match in Mirpur evenly poised.
A superb knock of 144 from Shakib Al Hasan – his best first-class score – helped Bangladesh post a total of 338 and the removal of Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez for 14 raised home hopes of levelling the series.
Hafeez had hit 143 as Pakistan recorded an innings victory in the first Test at Chittagong, but even with him gone after edging a Nazmul Hossain delivery behind to Mushfiqur Rahim, Pakistan were able to steady the ship.
By stumps, Taufeeq Umar had reached 44, with eight fours, and Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 26.
Shakib helped his team add 51 in a shortened first session to reach lunch at 285 for five, but he was finally out following a mix-up with Mushfiqur which enabled Taufeeq to throw down the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
Mushfiqur was out himself next ball for 40 as he gloved an Umar Gul delivery behind to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal to bring the Bangladeshi tail into play, and they failed to cover themselves in glory.
It became 331 for eight when Elias Sunny was bamboozled by a doosra from Saeed Ajmal and trapped lbw for 12. And in the next over, new batsman Nazmul made a swift exit, run out by Abdur Rehman as Bangladesh attempted a second run to keep Shahadat Hossain on strike.
A six from Shahadat brought late relief but the innings ended when another Ajmal doosra caught Robiul Islam on the pads with the ball destined for leg stump.
