Shan, Babar centuries keep Pakistan on top against Bangladesh

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Pakistan showed the world why they wanted to play Tests on home soil as opener Shan Masood and middle-order batsman Babar Azam scored centuries to help the hosts accumulate 109-run lead on day two of the first Test in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan started the second day of the Test with no runs and no wickets lost on the scorecard after dismissing Bangladesh for 233 on day one.

Left-hander Masood and right-handed batsman Abid Ali opened the innings, but the latter was dismissed as early as in the second over of the innings off Abu Jayed. Abid was caught behind for naught after playing six balls.

Masood was then joined by Pakistan captain Azhar Ali on the crease. Azhar added 34 to Pakistan’s first innings total courtesy four boundaries but was unable to convert the start into something substantial. Jayed was once again the bowler who gave Bangladesh the breakthrough when Azhar edged one to the slip cordon.

Pakistan’s premier right-handed batsman Babar Azam then walked in and started scoring from the word go to make his intentions clear. The 25-year-old scored an unbeaten 143 courtesy of 19 boundaries and a solitary six.

Masood, who was batting from the start of day two, meanwhile reached his century off 160 balls but couldn’t carry on after he was bowled by Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam. Masood hit 11 boundaries en route his Test ton.

Babar then coupled with one of Pakistan’s veteran and most dependable batsman Asad Shafiq (60 not out) to take the score of 342-3 at the end of day two.

Shafiq contributed with a half-century off 111 balls with the help of eight boundaries.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistan sent Bangladesh in to bat first and Shaheen Shah Afridi made sure captain Azhar made the right decision as the left-arm pacer bagged a four-for.

Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto (44) and Mohammad Mithun (63) were the only ones to offer some resistance against a young Pakistani bowling powerhouse.

For Pakistan, apart from Shaheen, Muhammad Abbas took two wickets, part-time left-arm spinner Haris Sohail dismissed two batsmen, while teenage pace prodigy Naseem Shah could only account for one batsman.

Out of the five bowlers, leggie Yasir Shah was the only bowler who went wicketless in his 22 overs, giving away 83 runs in the process.