Mirpur: Half-centuries from Najmul Hossain Sandhu and Mominul Haq defied Pakistan’s bowling as the opening day of the first Test ended in Bangladesh’s control at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.
After being asked to bat first, Mushfiqur Rahim scored an unbeaten 48 off 104 balls with 6 fours and Liton Das scored 8 off 35 balls as Bangladesh were bowled out for 301-4 in 85 overs.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan the first breakthrough as opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy was dismissed for 8 off 19 balls, including 2 fours.
Shadman Islam was the second batsman to get out early which put the pressure on Bangladesh, who hit two fours off 30 balls before being dismissed by Hasan Ali for 13 runs.
Mominul Haq and skipper Najmul Hossain Shando combined to anchor the innings and reach 50 runs, helping Bangladesh cross the 100-run mark at 101-2 in 26 overs at the break.
Shando piled on the runs with key support from Haq, which helped lift his bat for his sixth Test fifty, while Mominul joined his partner in reaching his 100.
Both batsmen added 100 runs as Mominul raised his bat for his 26th Test fifty. With the hosts stifling Pakistan’s bowling attack and the runs flowing freely, the skipper led from the front and raised the bat for his ninth Test century, which helped the team cross the 200-run mark.
However, Mohammad Abbas got the crucial breakthrough and smashed 170, Sandhu smashed 101 off 130 balls, including 12 fours and 2 sixes, to dominate 201-3 in 52 overs at tea.
Mushfiqur Rahim came in to bat and started piling on the runs, Mominul came close to another Test century and the duo put on a decent 50 which helped the team cross the 250-run mark.
However, Noman Ali scored 91 off 200 balls with 10 fours.
Mushfiqur played judiciously alongside Liton Das and kept the team on the scoreboard to pass 300 in the 84th over before remaining unbeaten until stumps ended the opening day.
Pacers Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali, while off-spinner Noman Ali took one wicket each, the bowlers struggled with fitness issues throughout the opening day, conceding 31 extras, including 16 bags, seven leg-byes and eight no-balls.