Sports Reporter :
Pakistan National Cricket team scored 158 runs for the loss of four wickets on the Day 1 of the first Test cricket match against Bangladesh Cricket team in a rain interrupted opening day play at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi of Pakistan on Wednesday. Bangladesh won in the coin-session and decided to field first.
Hasan Mahmud gave an early lead to Bangladesh as Pakistani opener Abdullah Shafique (2) was caught at the gully by Zakir Hasan off the right-arm pacer when Pakistan’s score was just three.
Then, left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam struck as one-down Shan Masood (6) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das off the left-arm pacer when the hosts’ total was 14 for the loss of two wickets.
Shoriful Islam hit again as second-down Babar Azam (0) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das off the left-arm pacer when Pakistan’s score was 16 for the loss of three wickets.
Then, opener Saim Ayub and third-down Saud Shakeel repaired the damage adding together 98 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Saim Ayub was caught by Mahidy Hasan Miraz off Hasan Mahmud when Pakistan’s total was 114 for the loss of four wickets.
Saim Ayub knocked a painstaking 56. He hit four fours and a sixer in his 98-ball innings.
After dismissal of Saim, Saud Shakeel and fourth-down Mohammad Rizwan put on together 44 runs in the unbroken fifth wicket stand before the umpires pocketed the bails for the first day.
Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten with 57 runs. His 92-ball innings was belted with five fours.
Mohammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten with 24. His 31-ball innings had two fours.
Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud bowled extremely well. Shoriful Islam finished his first-day spell as 12-4-30-2, while Hasan Mahmud completed his opening day spell as 13-3-33-2.
Nahid Rana, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan failed to pick up any Pakistan’s wicket.