Pak vs Ban 1st Test Day 2: Azan & Abbas Put Pakistan in Control

Mirpur: Debutant Azan Awais stole the spotlight on Day 2 of the first Test, guiding Pakistan to a commanding 179/1 at stumps after Mohammad Abbas’s clinical five-wicket haul had earlier restricted Bangladesh to 413.

The day 2 belonged to the 21-year-old Awais, who showed composure far beyond his years. Chasing Bangladesh’s formidable first-innings total, the left-handed opener finished the day unbeaten on 85, leaving Pakistan trailing by 234 runs with nine wickets in hand. 

Abbas Dismantles the Tail

The morning session began with Bangladesh looking to capitalize on their Day 1 score of 301/4. However, Pakistan’s veteran seamer Mohammad Abbas had other plans. Utilizing the slight moisture available in the early Dhaka air, Abbas produced a masterclass in seam bowling.

He struck early to remove the set batters and then systematically dismantled the lower order. Despite a gritty 71 from Mushfiqur Rahim, who fought a lone battle to push the hosts past the 400-mark, the tail offered little resistance against Abbas’s relentless accuracy. Abbas finished with figures of 5/92, his first five-wicket haul in the format in over two years, reminding the cricketing world of his enduring quality on unresponsive surfaces.

Awais Leads the Charge

Pakistan’s response was clinical. The opening pair of Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais blunted the new ball with remarkable ease. Bangladesh’s seamers, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana, found little swing or seam movement, allowing the openers to settle into a rhythm.The duo put on 106 for the first wicket, the highest opening stand for Pakistan in Bangladesh since 2015. Imam looked set for a half-century before a lapse in concentration saw him chip a delivery from off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz straight to mid-on for 45.

Abdullah Fazal joined Awais, and the pair continued to accumulate runs with ease. Awais reached his maiden Test fifty off just 82 balls, celebrating with a modest raise of the bat. 

By the time the shadows lengthened over the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Fazal had moved to 37*, and Awais was closing in on a historic debut century.

Bangladesh’s Bowling Woes

For the hosts, it was a day of toil. The spin trio of Miraz, Taijul Islam, and Shakib Al Hasan failed to extract significant turn from a pitch that appeared to have flattened out considerably. While Miraz provided the lone breakthrough, the lack of pressure from the other end allowed Pakistan to score at nearly four runs per over.

As the teams head into Day 3, the momentum sits squarely in the Pakistan camp. With a deep batting lineup and a set debutant at the crease, the visitors will look to bat Bangladesh out of the game on a surface that typically begins to wear and crack from the fourth day onwards.

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