08:31 IST:
Pakistan openers counter with aggression – With the momentum swinging back towards Bangladesh, Pakistan’s reply required immense composure, especially with a tricky period of high pressure remaining before the end of the first day’s play. Into the middle under the fading light stepped two young Pakistani opening batsmen, both of whom had just won their first open caps in the Test series. Rather than retreating into a cautious defensive shell against a blistering bowling attack, the young duo displayed incredible maturity and a fearlessly aggressive mindset. Both Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal confidently pounced on anything that was slightly loose, blunted the threat of the new ball with nimble footwork and successfully navigated the dangerous closing turns without losing a single wicket. Their proactive approach silenced the home crowd, protected the middle order from a night watchman scenario and ensured that the visitors left the ground with a solid, unbeaten footing.
