Ban vs Pak 2nd Test: Surprises Continue, More is Expected to Come!

Even the craziest Bangladeshi cricket fan probably couldn’t expect this team to wonder the cricket world this way! After winning the first test by ten wickets, Pakistan came to play the second test, hoping to level the series with a win.

But what’s happening so far is fantastic and something to remember for long. After three days of the match, no team can demand to be ahead of the other.

Before the Second Test Begins

The rain affected the first match, yet there was a result. This match is also in the same venue, i.e., Rawalpindi; therefore, rain was anticipated initially. This time, the pitch is greener than that of the first match. Besides, Taskin was added to the Bangladesh side, which boosted their confidence.

Apart from these, the political situation of Pakistan is supposed to impose mental pressure on the players, which may distract them from the game. Bangladesh, too, is going through a transitional period due to a change in the cricket board. 

So, when this was the situation, the first day of the second test match was wasted in the rain, with no single ball bowled; not even the toss was in action!

However, on the 2nd day, the weather was good enough to start the game. Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl first. Considering the unpredictable pitch condition after heavy rain, taking the risk of batting on the fifth day is a good choice.

Pakistan 1st Innings

The plan was proven correct as Bangladesh took an early wicket of A. Shafique in the first over of Taskin! This was exactly what fans expected from Taskin! But Pakistan didn’t stumble for it as Saim Ayub and Shan Masood confidently continued their partnership.

Unfortunately, the pace bowlers couldn’t perform as expected after Taskin’s early strike. However, Mehidy Miraz broke the partnership when the score was 107! The good thing for Bangladesh was that they were able to take wickets at regular intervals. After Saim Ayub’s 58 and Shan Masood’s 57, none among Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, or Mohammad Rizwan could carry their innings for long after starting promisingly.

However, Salman Ali Agha’s 54 of 95 balls helped Pakistan to set a good total to end their first innings at 274. Considering the pitch condition, this was not a bad score indeed!

For Bangladesh, Taskin and Miraz led the bowling department. Taskin took crucial wickets in his comeback, and Miraz took five wickets! Shakib Al Hasan took one wicket, which could have been more if so; many catches had been missed! However, it was proven that even on a green pitch, Bangladeshi spinners can turn their ball well enough to trouble the batters.

Bangladesh’s Reply to Pak First Innings

At the end of the second day, Bangladesh was able to manage, scoring ten runs without losing any wickets. The third day was important as this would likely decide the possible match result, and Bangladesh’s top-order batters showed a disastrous batting display! They lost Z. Hasan’s first wicket at 14 and their sixth wicket at 26!

Practically, such batting collapse is not uncommon in cricket; for Bangladesh, this is not that unusual. But what happened next was remarkable, too! When Liton Das had just played three balls, Mehidy Miraz came to the field after the fall of the critical wicket of Shakib Al Hasan. At least a one-hundred team total was the highest someone could expect. It is mentionable that Bangladesh needed 124 runs to avoid follow-on since the first day was thoroughly washed out.

However, Liton and Miraz didn’t allow Pakistani bowlers to dominate anymore and continued very cautiously. Slowly and steadily, they dominated the Pakistani bowlers with some big hits. While Miraz was solid from the beginning, Liton displayed classical batting, for which he is unique!

After his partnership with Mushfique in the first match, this was his next innings, as he didn’t bat in the second innings of the last game. Miraz also scored an outstanding knock of 72 runs in the previous match, and both looked like they were continuing their aggression with confidence until today.

At one point, it seemed like Bangladesh might start taking leads! Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, as Miraz got out at 78. Liton’s sudden cramp also troubled him from playing naturally. Nothing could stop him from getting his fourth test hundred, second with Pakistan! After Miraz, his partnership with Hasan Mahmud was also great! At 138, Liton ended his innings while trying another big hit. Bangladesh finished the 1st innings with a score trailed by 12 runs only!

For Pakistan, Khurram, the young talent, took six wickets, primarily instigating the batting collapse. Mir Hamza and Ali Agha took two wickets each.

Pakistan 2nd Innings So Far

A few overs were left on the third day when Pakistan came to bat. There shouldn’t have been much to write, yet it has! Abdullah Shafique went early; this time, Hasan Mahmud bowled, and Liton took the catch! With this early wicket, Khurram was sent as the “Night Watch Man” to save the remaining balls. Unfortunately, he couldn’t and was bowled by Hasan Mahmud again!

Prediction for the Last Couple of Days of the Rawalpindi Test

So, Pakistan ended the third day with 9 runs, losing two wickets; with this, they are ahead of 21 runs. They have eight wickets and two days in hand. If they can play the whole fourth day, Bangladesh will have a considerable score to chase on the fifth day. If this happens, then some exciting moments will undoubtedly await cricket fans of these two teams.

Apart from these, whether can play a significant role again since Rawalpindi’s forecast says there may be heavy rain in the next few days! While too much rain could result in a draw for this test, scattered rain will significantly change the momentum and pitch condition.

Considering the spin bowling depth of Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Miraz could again play the most critical role, just like they did in the second innings of the first test match!

Some Final Thoughts

Even a draw is enough for Bangladesh to win this series and grab some valuable points in the World Test Championship. How they recovered from the collapse on the third day immensely boosted their confidence and helped them back into the game.

The excitement of Test cricket is now at the next level when not just these two teams but the whole cricket world will be closely watching the match and expect a result after tough competition from both ends.

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