Much needed breather as Tigers head into Lunch

Bangladesh find themselves in a familiar, precarious situation as the hosts head into Lunch at 69 for four on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

Bangladesh batting's mainstay Mushfiqur Rahim and wicket-keeper-batter Liton Das managed to see out the final 12 overs after the Tigers were four down at 49 after 16.2 overs, having elected to bat.   

Earlier, Shaheen Shah Afridi had the new ball talking from the very first delivery as Shadman Islam went on to nick a faint outside-edge to the wicket keeper in the opening over. However, the edge went unnoticed and was not appealed by the visitors. Another chance went begging for Babar Azam and company, who refused to review a Hasan Ali delivery, which trapped Saif Hassan in front in the fourth over of the innings.

Although Pakistan did not take long to draw the first blood as Saif was undone by Afridi in the next over. Saif struck three boundaries for his 14 off 12 balls before getting caught at short leg after his failed attempt to fend off a sharp bouncer from the left-arm pacer.   

Shadman soon followed suit at the end of the eight over as Hasan Ali finally got the reward for his spell of bowling when he trapped the left-handed batter in front. The batter in danger opted for a review to overturn the leg-before decision but it went in vain. Shadman faced 28 balls and hit three boundaries for his 14 runs.

Following the demise of the openers, Bangladesh suffered a double blow in the span of seven deliveries from the 16th over when skipper Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto were dismissed after scoring only six and 14 runs, respectively. Sajid Khan scalped Mominul's wicket while Faheem Ashraf grabbed Shanto's.

All of Pakistan's bowlers, except for Nauman Ali, have grabbed a wicket. 
 

Middle-order exposed quick as Tigers' misery continues

Pakistan have started strong on the opening day of the first of the two-match Test series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram as the visitors, who were asked to bowl first, continue to stamp their authority over Bangladesh in the longest format of the game as well.

Bangladesh's middle-order has already been exposed in the midway of the first session when Najmul Hossain Shanto was the latest to depart on 14 before Bangladesh's Test captain Mominul Haque got out after scoring only six runs, having given an outside edge to wicketkeeper off Sajid Khan's delivery. Both the opening batters -- Shadman Islam and Saif Hassan -- were also dismissed on 14, earlier.   

Wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das has joined the experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim at the centre as Bangladesh find themselves at 60 for 4 after 20 overs.

Both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali have utilised the new ball successfully and have ended their first spells, each with a wicket, and in the process have given the Bangladesh openers a genuine taste of Test cricket.