Awais 85 not out and Abbas five-for shape day two as Pakistan reach 179 for 1 in Mirpur
Pakistan responded with intent in Mirpur on Saturday after wrapping up Bangladesh for 413, with debutant Azan Awais ending day two unbeaten on 85 and the visitors closing on 179 for 1.
Mohammad Abbas had set the tone earlier with 5 for 92, picking off the tail after Bangladesh resumed on 301 for 4. Litton Das fell for 33 to start the morning, and Abbas returned to remove Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in quick succession at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Shaheen Afridi finished with 3 for 113.
Mushfiqur anchors the Bangladesh innings
Mushfiqur Rahim's 71 off 179 balls held the middle order together, the senior batter striking several boundaries before falling to Shaheen just after lunch. Combined with Najmul Hossain Shanto's 101 and Mominul Haque's 91 from day one, three fifty-plus scores and a captain's hundred underwrote 117.1 overs of Bangladesh batting before the home side were bowled out for 413.
Awais and Imam open with 106
Pakistan, missing the injured Babar Azam, leaned hard on the new boy. Awais and Imam-ul-Haq put on 106 for the opening stand before Mehidy Hasan Miraz pinned Imam in front for 45. Abdullah Fazal then walked in to join Awais and the pair added 73 unbroken runs by stumps, Fazal on 37 and Awais working the gaps either side of the wicket.
Day three, with Awais 15 from a debut hundred
Pakistan trail by 234 runs heading into Sunday, with nine wickets in hand and Awais 15 short of a debut century. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the Bangladesh off-spinner, ended day two with 1 for 37 and is likely to lead the home attack on the third morning.
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