DHAKA, Feb 9, 2020 (BSS)- Pakistan’s young fast bowler Naseem Shah wrecked havoc on Bangladesh batting, claiming 4-26 with an incredible hat-trick as Bangladesh stood on the brink of a shameful defeat in the first Test in Rawalpindi on Monday.
At the end of the day three, Bangladesh reached 126-6, still requiring 86
runs to avoid the innings defeat.
Bangladesh began the second innings with a deficit of 212 after bowling
Pakistan out for 445 in its first innings just after the lunch session.
But the things didn’t pan out for them happily at the end even though the
openers Tamim Iqbal and Saif Hasan started the innings fluently.
Tamim who was out on just 3 in first innings, got off to the mark with a
flurry of boundaries while Saif Hasan, seemed to be in mood to compensate his
0 in the first innings.
Both of them plunder new ball by bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Shah
Afridi in emphatic fashion to indicate a good day for the fans.
The 16-year-old Naseem Shah made the first breakthrough, rattling the stump
of Saif Hasan with a delivery that moved slightly.
Saif made 16 off 25, sending the ball across the rope for four times.
The big blow came when leg-spinner Yasir Shah removed Tamim Iqbal for 34,
through leg-before.
Skipper Mominul Haque and Nazmul Hossain Shanto resisted the rampant
Pakistani bowlers with utmost confidence. As they looked all set in the
crease to end the day without any fuss, Naseem came up with blow all of a
sudden.
He firstly reviewed a leg-before decision successfully to dismiss Shanto
for 38, bringing an end to a 71-run partnership between him and Mominul.
With nine overs still to play, Bangladesh sent night watchman Taijul Islam
to deal with the rest of the overs but the strategy didn’t work as Naseem
also removed him through leg-before.
He then had Mahmudullah caught by Haris Sohail to complete a hat-trick as
only the fourth Pakistani bowler in Test cricket after Wasim Akram, Abdul
Razzak and Mohammad Sami.
Overall Naseem’s hat-trick is the 44th instance of such incident in the
Test cricket’s 143-year history. Naseem is the 41st bowler in history to
achieve the feat with his compatriot Wasim Akram, Australia’s Trumble and
England’s Stuart Broad making it twice.
Yasir Shah, however, then got Mohammad Mithun, who scored team’s highest 63
in the first innings, for a duck to complete Bangladesh’s agony.
Before the bails were drawn, Mominul Haque was batting on 37 with Liton
Das, who is yet to open his account.
Earlier, resuming the day on 342-3, Pakistan was bowled out for 445. Babar
Azam was out on his overnight 143 while Asad Shafiq could add just five runs
to his 60 to be out on 65. Haris Sohail, however, led the charge with 75 as
Pakistan was able to add 103 runs more.
Abu Jayed Rahi and Rubel Hossain claimed three wickets apiece while Taijul
Islam took two wickets.