Pakistan trail Tigers by 105 runs after day two

Pakistan ended day two on 227 runs for the loss of only one wicket on the back of Mohammad Hafeez's hundred, Azhar Ali's fifty and sloppy fielding from Bangladesh at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium at Khulna today.

Having had a torrid time during the one-day matches, Hafeez got back into form at the placid pitch at Khulna with an aggressive unbeaten innings of 137 runs from 179 balls with 12 4s and 2 6s to his name.

He is the sixth Pakistan batsman to make hundreds in three consecutive Tests - after Zaheer Abbas, Mudassar Nazar, Shoaib Mohammad, Mohammad Yousuf (twice) and Younis Khan.

Hafeez was always on the lookout for runs, and rotated the strike with consummate ease as the Bangladesh bowlers began tiring under the sweltering sun at Khulna.   

The unbeaten partnership of 177 runs between Hafeez and Azhar Ali placed Pakistan in a strong position in their first innings of the test match.

Azhar Ali played second fiddle to Hafeez and scored 65 runs from 136 balls with two fours and a six punctuating his sedate knock. He was extremely watchful to begin with and slowly got into gear as his innings progressed.

Bangladesh's debutant Mohammad Shahid was unlucky not to pick up his first wicket as Mushfiqur Rahim dropped a relatively easy catch when Azhar was batting on 28. Azhar was reprieved by the same player when he made just one run.

After a solid opening stand of 50 runs, Pakistan lost their first wicket when Sami Aslam was caught down the leg side as he tickled a delivery from Taijul Islam to the safe hands of Mushfiqur Rahim.

Sami's brisk innings of 20 runs came from 36 balls with two fours and a six to his name.

Taijul Islam was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh having picked up a solitary wicket for 43 runs in 16 overs.

Earlier, Rubel Hossain was the last Bangladesh wicket to fall as he threw his bat at Wahab Riaz's full delivery without moving his feet and got a thick edge to the keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Wahab struck just after lunch when his short ball got too big on Muhammad Shahid and the tail-ender only managed to flat-bat it in the air for a simple catch to Misbah ul Haq. Shahid struck two boundaries in his short knock of 10 runs from 15 balls.

Pakistan's best bowler for the innings was Wahab Riaz, who captured three wickets for 55 runs in 26 overs. Yasir Shah's three wickets also helped his team to dismiss Bangladesh below 400 runs in the first innings. Mohammad Hafeez and Zulfiqar Babar took two wickets each.

Taijul Islam stay at the cease didn't last long as he was bamboozled by Yasir Shah's wrong'un going for a slog over mid-wicket as the ball rattled his leg-stump. He was unable to rotate the strike and was looking for a big shot to release some pressure built up by the Pakistani bowlers.

Seven balls after Soumya's departure, Pakistan struck a massive blow when Yasir Shah got rid of Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim for 32 runs.

Mushfiq fell to a soft dismissal as his half-hearted cut shot spooned the ball to the covers where Misbah ul Haq didn't make any mistake. He faced 71 balls and struck five fours in his innings.

After a steady partnership of 62 runs with Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar lost his wicket against the run of play when he sliced a ball from Mohammad Hafeez and was brilliantly caught by Asad Shafiq at cover.

Soumya was looking comfortable at the crease, easily keeping the scoreboard ticking in his knock of 33 runs from 55 balls (five 4s).

Running down the track to a tossed up delivery from Zulfiqar Babar, Shakib Al Hasan swung hard towards the leg side, but he only managed an inside edge and was quickly grasped by Asad Shafiq at leg-slip.

Shakib lost his wicket trying to up the ante in search of quick runs, scored 25 runs from 61 balls with three boundaries to his name.

Mominul Haque's knock of 80 runs was the highest score for Bangladesh. Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah contributed to their team's cause with descent scores of their own.

Bangladesh Team

Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(Captain, Wicketkeeper), Soumya Sarkar, Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain and Mohammad Shahid

Pakistan Team

Mohammad Hafeez, Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (Captain), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (Wicketkeeper), Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Junaid Khan, and Zulfiqar Babar