Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez smashed his first Test double century in the second session of Day 3 of first Test against Bangldesh at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on Thursday.
Hafeez reached his first double hundred taking a couple of runs in the fifth delivery of 96th over bowled by Taijul Islam. He played 286 balls and smashed 21 fours and 3 sixes to his double ton.
With the double century from Hafeez, Pakistan took lead against Bangladesh’s 332 in first innings.
Earlier, Bangladesh off-spinner Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury bowled out Pakistan’s Azhar Ali to break the two hundred plus partnership between him and Mohammad Hafeez in the first session
Azhar and Hafeez added 227 runs in the second wicket partnership. Azhar scored 83 runs hitting 4 fours and 1 six.
Left arm spinner Taijul Islam then bowled out Younis Khan after lunch. Younis scored 33 runs and added 62 with Mohammad Hafeez in the third wicket partnership.
Pakistan were 362/3 in 99 overs. Hafeez was unbeaten on 201 runs while Misbah-ul-Haq on 16.
Earlier in the previous day, Pakistan were 227/1 after Bangladesh’s first innings were wrapped up for 332.
Bangladesh left arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed the only wicket of Sami Aslam who made 20 runs in his debut Test match.
Mohammad Hafeez and Aslam added 50 runs in the opening partnership.
Hafeez survived in the 4th over taking a review against the umpire’s decision and was dropped by Mushifiq in the 35th over when his score was 77.
The 34-year risght hand batsman reached his eighth Test century in the 42th over with a boundary off Rubel Hossain. He just played 123 balls to complete the hundred hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Hafeez and Azhar Ali added 177 runs in the unbroken second wicket partnership. Hafeez was unbeaten on 137 while Azhar on 65 when the stumps were called.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s first innings were wrapped up for 332 runs in 120 overs just after lunch as they added only 96 runs in the second day losing rest of the six wickets.
Bangladesh closed the first day at 236/4 after skipper Mushfiqur Rahim won toss and chose to bat first at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.
Country’s ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was unbeaten on 19 when the stumps called in the previous day, added only 6 runs in the second day. He was caught at leg-slip by Asad Shafiq off Zulfiqur Babar.
After Shakib departed, debutant Soumya Sarkar came in and paired with skipper Mushifiqur Rahim. The duo added 62 runs in the 6th wicket partnership. Soumya scored 33 hitting 5 boundaries before he was caught by Asad Shafiq off Mohammad Hafeez in the 112th over.
Later Mushfiqur Rahim also departed contributing 32 runs with 5 boundaries as Bangladesh past 300.
Debutant pacer Mohamma Shahid added 10 runs while Shuvagata Hom was unbeaten on 12.
Pakistan pace Wahab Riaz claimed 3 wickets for 55 runs while legspinner Yasir Shah picked up another three for 86. Mohammad Hafeez and Zulfiqur Babar took two wickets each.
Earlier in the first day, Bangladesh ended the play putting 232runs on the scoreboard as Mominul Haque made 80, Imrul Kayes 51 and Mahmudullah 49.
Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Soumya Sarkar, 8 Shuvagata Hom, 9 Taijul Islam 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Mohammad Shahid.
Pakistan: 1 Sami Aslam, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfaraz Ahmed, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Yasir Shah, 11 Zulfiqar Babar.
