Shaheen shines as Pakistan restrict Bangladesh to 233 on day one

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The return of Tests has proven to be a good omen for Pakistan as they started the first match against Bangladesh with a dominant bowling performance on day one at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Hosts, under the leadership of Azhar Ali, opted to send in Bangladesh to bat in the first of the two-match Test series and the captain’s decision paid dividends as Pakistan’s young pace attack was on point from the word go.

Bangladesh were struck two early blows when opener Saif Hasan was caught behind by Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan off Shaheen Shah Afridi on the third ball of the very first over of the day.

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Saif was out for a two-ball duck as he tried to defend a full delivery which was angled into his pads.

Bangladesh’s premier opener Tamim Iqbal (3 off 5 balls) was the next victim, who promised form for the visitors after scoring a triple ton just last week. Muhammad Abbas, in the second over of the match, caught the veteran left-hander LBW. The umpire said no, but Pakistan reviewed the decision and earned the prized scalp.

With Bangladesh against the wall, incoming duo of Najmul Hossain Shanto (44 off 110) and Mominul Haque (30 off 59) towed the innings forward with a 59-run partnership.

However, Shaheen was once again the hero for Pakistan as he found an edge off Mominul to send him back to the pavilion.

Shanto was Abbas’ second wicket of the day as the batsman was caught-behind while chasing an out-going delivery.

Another Bangladesh veteran Mahmudullah added 25 to Bangladesh’s total before becoming Shaheen’s third victim of the day. The wicket’s credit was deserved more by Asad Shafiq rather than the bowler as the fielder nearly flew to his right in the slips cordon to cup a two-handed stunner.

With half the team back in the pavilion and only 107 runs on the board, Muhammad Mithun (63 off 140) partnered first with Liton Das (33 off 46) and then with Taijul Islam (24 off 72) for two 50-plus partnerships to add some decency to Bangladesh’s total.

Liton was caught LBW by Haris Sohail, while Taijul also lost his wicket to Haris in trying to smash the left-arm part-time spinner out of the park, but instead being caught at long on by Yasir Shah.

Rubel Hossain was the next man to be dismissed. He was clean bowled by Shaheen as the left-arm pacer made it four for the day.

Bangladesh’s player of the day Mithun was caught behind after another DRS review. Rizwan bagged the catch behind the stumps but Azhar had to review the decision to ascertain if the Pakistan wicketkeeper had cupped the catch perfectly.

With nine wickets down, Bangladesh’s last man to be dismissed was from a run out, thus ended a day of dominance for Pakistan in both the field and with the ball. 

Pakistan’s pacer made sure the hosts were smiling at the end of day one of the first Test against Bangladesh as they dismissed the whole team for 233.