2024-09-03 11:13:32
Published: 12:37, 1 September 2024 Updated: 12:39, 1 September 2024
It was already known that Pakistan’s bowlers would be difficult to handle with the new ball. But after a great performance in the first Test, there was a belief that the top order would be able to put up a proper resistance. Especially if Zakir and Sadman give a good start, the rest of the journey can be smooth. But in Rawalpindi, Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza are just the top and middle order of Bangladesh in one spell.
After losing the first wicket for 14 runs, Bangladesh added 12 more runs to five batsmen. Pakistan got a break through with the last ball of the sixth over. Then the third ball of the 12th over matched the sixth wicket. Losing 6 wickets in 35 balls, Bangladesh’s batting is disoriented. Bangladesh lost 6 wickets to score 26 runs.
This is Bangladesh’s joint second worst start in Test cricket. Earlier, Bangladesh had lost 6 wickets for 26 runs only once in a Test. That too two years ago, in April 2022 in South Africa. In the second innings of the first Test in Durban, the opening 6 batsmen were dismissed for just 26 runs en route to being bowled out for 53 runs. After two years of random batting, Bangladesh witnessed the same nightmare again.
Mushfiqur, Shakib, Shanto got a taste of the Pakistani bowlers’ controlled, disciplined bowling and their own haphazard batting. Liton and Mirage are trying to build resistance in the seventh wicket. Meanwhile, the team’s run has reached fifty. It remains to be seen how well their bats can respond.
Bangladesh’s batting disaster started with Zakir Hasan. Khurram’s length ball was flicked by Loppa. In the next over, Sadman got bowled while playing this pacer and returned to Sajghar. Shanta came to the wicket and returned. Khurram missed the inside ball and was bowled for just 4 runs. Muminul Mir gave the wicket to Hamza. Mushfiq caught a great swing delivery of the left-handed pacer behind the wicket.
Bangladesh lost the last wicket of Shakib. Khurram’s ball LBW, Shakib returned to Sajghar for 2 runs. Khurram and Amir messed up Bangladesh’s opening batting in a short and terrible spell on seven mornings. This bowling pair can decide the fate of this test.
Dhaka/Yasin/Vijay