Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto put his side in a commanding position as Pakistan looked to make a lasting impression on Day 1 of the opening Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Shanto registered his ninth Test hundred as the hosts closed the opening day strongly on 301 for four from 85 overs.
Asked to bat first, Bangladesh suffered early setbacks as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali reduced the hosts to 31 for two inside 11 overs, dismissing Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam cheaply. The surface offered movement in overcast conditions and Pakistan’s pacers looked menacing with the new ball.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test Day 1: Highlights | Scorecard
SHANTO KEEPING PAKISTAN ON HIT
However, Shanto absorbed the pressure brilliantly before launching a calculated counter-attack that completely shifted the momentum in Bangladesh’s favour. Shanto found an ideal ally in Mominul Haque as the pair put together a crucial 170-run partnership for the third wicket.
The Bangladesh skipper mixed caution with aggression, punishing anything that came loose while remaining technically compact against the moving ball. He reached his half-century off 71 deliveries and became increasingly dominant after lunch, driving smoothly through the covers and pulling the short ball with authority.
The milestone came when Shanto drove Mohammad Abbas over the next cover to bring up his 129-ball century. His innings of 101, laced with 12 boundaries and two sixes, took the sting out of Pakistan’s bowling attack. Moments later, Abbas trapped him lbw after Pakistan successfully reviewed the fielding decision.
Pakistan’s frustration deepened as veteran spinner Noman Ali struggled badly with his pace. The left-arm spinner repeatedly overstepped and bowled six no-balls during a challenging spell as he struggled to contain the well-set Bangladesh batsmen. His lack of control allowed Bangladesh to keep the scoreboard moving and relieve the pressure at critical moments during the second session.
MOMINUL IS SHORT OF A HUNDRED
Mominul looked set for a memorable century after producing a composed and resilient knock, but on 91 for 91 the heart struck when Noman trapped him late in the day. Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 48 alongside Litton Das, who has played several important knocks for Bangladesh in Test cricket over the years.
Historically, the Mirpur surface becomes increasingly difficult to bat on as the match progresses, with significant help for bowlers later in the game. If Bangladesh manage to get past 400 on Day 2, Pakistan may find themselves chasing a skin for a long time. With Mehidy Hasan Miraz yet to come, the Tigers will first aim to break 350 before setting their sights even higher.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
08 May 2026 18:14 IST
