Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan Hit Centuries to Put Pakistan in Control Against Bangladesh
Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan both scored their third Test centuries, putting Pakistan in a strong position in the first Test against Bangladesh. The duo added 240 runs together for the fifth wicket, marking the second-highest partnership for Pakistan against Bangladesh for that wicket. By Tea on Day 2, Pakistan had reached 367/5, with 111 runs added in the second session.
Rizwan, starting the session on 89, quickly reached his century by hitting a six and a four off Shakib Al Hasan. Meanwhile, Shakeel steadily worked his way to his hundred with singles and twos, reaching the milestone with a couple off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper, Litton Das, missed a couple of chances behind the stumps, giving Rizwan some lucky breaks. Bangladesh opted for the second new ball as soon as it was available, but it only resulted in more boundaries, as Pakistan crossed 300 and the partnership exceeded 200 runs.
Litton Das tried to create a wicket opportunity by throwing the ball at the stumps when Shakeel was out of his crease to Hasan Mahmud. However, Shakeel was able to return to safety. Eventually, Shakeel was stumped by Litton after being drawn out of his crease by Mehidy, ending the massive partnership. At Tea, Agha Salman was unbeaten with Rizwan after striking a boundary off Nahid Rana.
Earlier in the day, Shakeel and Rizwan continued their solid partnership from Day 1, adding 44 runs to their overnight score. They rotated the strike well and capitalized on boundary opportunities, while Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to make an impact. Rizwan brought up his fifty with a well-directed short ball from Rana, guiding it to the third man boundary. He then raised the century partnership with a powerful pull shot for six.
Despite Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto rotating his bowlers, they couldn’t contain the scoring. Rizwan maintained a strike rate above 80, regularly finding boundaries and outscoring his partner. Both batters entered the 80s before Lunch and continued their dominance in the second session.
Brief scores: Pakistan 367/5 (Mohammad Rizwan 134*, Saud Shakeel 141, Saim Ayub 56; Shoriful Islam 2-59, Hasan Mahmud 2-70) vs Bangladesh.