PAK vs BAN 2024, PAK vs BAN 2nd Test Match Report, August 30 – September 03, 2024

Bangladesh 75 for 6 (Mehidy 33*, Litton 13*, Shahzad 4-15, Hamza 2-29) route Pakistan 274 for 199 runs

Both bowlers swung the hoops of the ball, aimed at the stumps, and most importantly stuck to their lines. With the new ball just two overs old, Hamza got a move right from the start but was unlucky. He got Zakir Hasan to clip one in the air but the ball fell just short of the diving Abrar Ahmed at square leg. A few balls later Pakistan failed to review the lbw decision when Zakir missed the play and was rapped on the thigh. Replays suggested that the ball would have taken much of the leg stump.

Shahzad, however, luckily had no such problems. With Bangladesh’s leading left-handed batsmen, he used the round-wicket-angle with precision. His plan was simple: target the stumps and the wickets would come. It worked wonderfully.

He started with Zakir waving high and Abrar holding a simple object around the short delivery area. In his next team, he cleaned Shadman Islam from behind. The opener went through his stumps but failed to consider Shahzad’s swing and found his mid-leg stumps in a mess.

Three balls later, it was Najmul Hossain Shanto’s turn to bounce back. Shahzad bowled one full ball that got the ball back sharply from an angle and the Bangladesh captain played all over to get his middle stump moving.

Hamza’s luck turned when he found Mominul Haque cutting the first ball in the ninth over. It was a minor dismissal, with Mominul hitting a full ball to mid-off as Bangladesh’s card read 20 for 4.

That quickly became 26 for 5 when Hamza found a length ball to cut it too late as first Test hero Mushfiqur Rahim managed to get past Mohammad Rizwan. Shahzad then returned between the wickets when he trapped Shakib Al Hasan in front of the stumps, who played down the wrong line and missed. The umpire gave that on the field and when Shakib reviewed, replays confirmed that the ball would have clipped the leg stump.

At 26 for 6, Bangladesh’s Test total of 43 looks in danger. But Mehidy and Litton brought the balance. When Sheen cleared the ball, and the duo of Khurram-Hamza were out of attack, the two went inside.

Litton started with a neat clip off Shahzad and when he was elbowed by the same bowler, he made sure he stuck. With the pitch light, and Abrar and Ali not playing much, Mehidy and Litton reached lunch unscathed having added 49 runs for the seventh wicket.

Bangladesh still need 50 runs to avoid trailing because with the opening day missed, the trailing limit has been reduced to 150.