Shadman Falls Short of Century as Bangladesh Closes In on Pakistan’s Lead

On the third day of the first test on Friday, Bangladesh thwarted pace-heavy Pakistan’s attack and reached 316-5 at stumps, Shadman missing out on a century in his return test match.

Playing in his first test match in over three months, Shadman batted for over five and a half hours, making 93 runs, when Mohammad Ali (1-42) clean bowled him at the break.

Despite Bangladesh’s 448-6 declaration, which included centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, they are still 132 runs behind Pakistan.

At the crease are Litton Das (52 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (55 not out). The second part of the first session saw them add an impressive 98 runs. When the second new ball was introduced late on Day 3, Shaheen Shah Afridi (0-55) and Naseem Shah (1-77) were unable to break the two hitters.

In Shah’s over, Das hit three fours and a pulled six to achieve his fifty off 52 balls. After ten months, Mushfiqur too scored a cool half century in his debut test.

Mominul Haque scored a stunning fifty runs off of just 76 balls, and he and Shadman restored Bangladesh’s innings with a partnership of 94 runs at the third wicket. The visitors had lost two early wickets in a first session that lasted more than three hours.

Soon after lunch, Pakistan broke that dangerous partnership when Khurram Shahzad (2-47), the day’s best seam bowler, bowled Mominul’s off stump. Shahzad’s bowling around the wicket caused issues for Bangladesh’s left-handers.

READ MORE: Shikhar Dhawan announced his Retirement

Before Mushfiqur scored, Pakistan attempted a failed lbw television referral. Shadman, on fifty-seven, successfully overturned a spinner Salman Ali Agha’s on-field leg before wicket call against him.

After that, Shadman picked up speed and smashed six more boundaries until Ali finally got his maiden wicket with a crisp approaching delivery. The left-hander finished with 183 balls and 12 boundaries in his methodical innings.

On a greenish wicket where the old soft ball was doing little to help pace bowlers, off-spinner Saim Ayub, who bowls part-time, picked up his first wicket in a test match when skipper Shan Masood caught Shakib Al Hasan at cover after he had almost reached 15 runs per ball before Musfiqur and Das took control against Afridi and Shah’s pace.

Before, in the fifth over of the day, after Bangladesh had begun on 27-0, Shah gave Pakistan an early break when Rizwan produced an incredible left-handed grab in front of first slip to eliminate Zakir Hasan (12). Shah limited Bangladesh’s development in the opening hour of play, giving up just 15 runs in his first 12 overs.

Bangladesh fell to 53-2 when Shadman and Mominul regained control as captain Najmul Hossain Shanto battled to score 16 off 42 balls and Shahzad’s off stump was pushed back.

Both left-handers picked up pace in the last hour, with Shadman reaching his half century with a pulled boundary on Shah’s final delivery before the opening session. Mominul was more at ease going against the speed, keeping the scoreboard ticking over as he followed Shah’s upper cut to the third-man boundary with a fourth four that went wide mid-on.