Sparkling hundreds from Babar Azam and Shan Masood put Pakistan in command against Bangladesh on the second day of the first of two Test matches in Rawalpindi Saturday.
Babar scored a career best unbeaten 143 for his third successive hundred in as many Tests - fifth of a burgeoning career - while opener Shan Masood made 100 as they pulverized a hapless Bangladesh attack at Rawalpindi Stadium.
At close, Babar was still batting with Asad Shafiq on 60, piling agony on the visitor during their unbroken 137-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Masood said he and Babar have done their jobs.
"We have batted our way to take the team in a strong position and hope that the remaining batsmen come and score so that we can build a good lead," said Masood, who hailed Babar as world class.
"When Babar was coming out to bat the crowd chanted 'Babar, Babar' and that is the sign of a great batsman who is so popular."
@TheRealPCB captain @AzharAli_ won the toss and sent @BCBtigers in to bat in the first of two Test matches in Rawalpindi Friday.https://t.co/0hHzQwsryT#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #PAKISTANCRICKET #PAKISTAN #BANGLADESHCRICKET #AZHARALI #AZHAR #ALI #PCB
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 7, 2020
Pakistan lead Bangladesh's first innings total of 233 by 109 runs with six wickets intact.
Since his fighting century against Australia at Brisbane (104) in November last year, Babar has notched 102 not out and 100 not out against Sri Lanka in two Tests - making this his fourth hundred in five Tests.
In between he missed a hundred at Adelaide by a mere three runs.
Babar steered spinner Taijul Islam to short third man boundary for his 15th four to complete three-figure mark off just 134 balls.
He has so far batted for 276 minutes, smashing 18 boundaries and a six.
His previous best score was 127 against New Zealand in Dubai in November 2018.
Skipper @AzharAli_ hopes @TheRealPCB will strengthen their credentials - both as a team and as host - when they face a depleted @BCBtigers side in the first of two Test matches in Rawalpindi starting Friday.https://t.co/HUU1VwTBt8#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 6, 2020
Shafiq also batted with confidence, having so far hit eight boundaries in his 111-ball knock.
But it could have been an early exit for Babar had Ebadat Hossain not dropped him off Taijul at long-off when his score was only two.
That lapse cost Bangladesh dearly as Babar added an invaluable 112 for the third wicket with Masood, who also knocked his third Test century - second in successive Tests.
Masood - who was finally bowled out by Taijul - reached his hundred by hooking pacer Rubel Hossain for his 12th boundary.
He reached three figure off 157 balls in 226 minutes of batting.
Taijul (1-111) toiled hard as he bowled 27 overs on the trot since start.
@BCBtigers opening batsman @TamimOfficial28 has risen 11 places to 50th position in the latest T20I ranking published Monday by the @ICC.https://t.co/9ctokjEOKn#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #TAMIM #IQBAL #TAMIMIQBAL #ICC #TAMIMIQBALKHAN #KHAN
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 3, 2020
The only other successful bowler was paceman Abu Jayed whose figure read 2/66.
When Pakistan started their innings in the morning all focus was on Abid, who scored two hundreds in his first two Tests against Sri Lanka in December last year.
Another hundred would have equalled Indian player Mohammad Azharuddin's unique record - three successive centuries in his first three Tests - but Abid fell far short when he was dismissed without scoring.
He edged a short and wide delivery from Jayed into the hands of wicket-keeper Liton Das and trudged off to the pavilion heartbroken.
Azhar added 91 runs for the second wicket with Masood and looked set for a big score until he miscued a drive off Jayed and was caught by Nazmul Hossain Shanto in the slip.
Azhar's attractive 34 included four boundaries.
1ST TEST, DAY 2
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B
Tamim lbw b Abbas 3 5
Saif c Shafiq b Afridi 0 2
Shanto c Rizwan b Abbas 44 110
Mominul c Rizwan b Afridi 30 59
Mahmudullah c Shafiq b Afridi 25 48
Mithun c Rizwan b Naseem 63 140
Liton lbw b Haris 33 46
Taijul c Yasir b Haris 24 72
Rubel b Afridi 1 9
Jayed run out (Abbas) 0 5
Ebadat not out 0 4
Extras (b 6, nb 3, w 1) 10
Total (82.5 Overs) 233 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-3 (Saif), 2-3 (Tamim), 3-62 (Mominul), 4-95 (Shanto), 5-107 (Mahmudullah), 6-161 (Liton), 7-214 (Taijul), 8-229 (Rubel), 9-233 (Mithun), 10-233 (Jayed)
Bowling
Afridi 21.5-3-53-4, Abbas 17-9-19-2, Naseem 16-0-61-1, Yasir 22-2-83-0, Haris 6-2-11-2
PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS R B
Masood b Taijul 100 160
Abid c Liton b Jayed 0 6
Azhar c Shanto b Jayed 34 59
Babar not out 143 192
Shafiq not out 60 111
Extras (b 1, lb 3, nb 1) 5
Total (87.5 Overs) 342/3
Fall Of Wickets
1-2 (Abid), 2-93 (Azhar), 3-205 (Masood)
Bowling
Ebadat 14.5-2-78-0, Jayed 20-2-66-2, Rubel 17-3-77-0, Taijul 34-5-111-1, Mahmudullah 2-0-6-0
Pakistan lead by 109 runs
