BAN vs PAK Live Score: Pakistan will enter Day 3 of the opening Test against Bangladesh with renewed confidence after fighting their way back into the contest through impressive performances from Mohammad Abbas and debutant Azan Awais.
After Bangladesh resumed on 301/4 on Day 2 and looked set for a massive first innings total, Abbas produced a sensational spell of disciplined seam bowling to finish with figures of 5/92 and dismiss the hosts for 413. The experienced pacer kept troubling the batsmen outside the off-stump and triggered a collapse in the morning session.
Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim tried to hold the innings together with a gritty 71 after starting the day unbeaten on 48. During his knock, Mushfiqur recorded his 42nd fifty-plus score in Test cricket, surpassing Tamim Iqbal for the most by a Bangladeshi batter.
Abbas removed Litton Das for 33 to break a promising partnership before dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam in quick succession. Shaheen Afridi complemented him well with 3/113 to end Mushfiqur’s resistance shortly after lunch. Abbas then completed his five-wicket haul by removing Ebadot Hossain for a duck.
A late cameo from Taskin Ahmed, who smashed 28 off just 19 balls, took Bangladesh past the 400-run mark. Earlier in the match, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto laid the foundation with a brilliant 101 while Mominul Haque contributed 91 on Day 1.
In response, Pakistan’s batting unit showed resilience under pressure. Debutant opener Azan Awais impressed with an unbeaten 85 at the stumps, showing remarkable composure in his first Test innings. He added a 106-run opening partnership with Imam-ul-Haq to blunt Bangladesh’s new-ball attack.
Bangladesh finally broke through when Mehidy Hasan trapped Imam lbw for 45, but Pakistan continued to build. Another debutant, Abdullah Fazal, overcame a shaky start to finish unbeaten on 37. He also survived a dropped catch by Shadman Islam off the bowling of Taskin Ahmed.
At stumps, Pakistan were 179/1, still trailing by 234 runs with nine wickets in hand. Going into the third day, the visitors will look to erase the deficit and potentially take control of the match, while Bangladesh will look for early breakthroughs to prevent Pakistan from building a substantial response.
