Unit For Gaza Series
Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Day Day 3
Pakistan resumed on 166/6, and they would have to bat well on a wearing day 3 pitch against the new ball (new ball available after every 40 overs). However the Pakistani batsman found it difficult to score with some tight bowling from a fresh R Hossain who ended yesterday with 4 wickets. He added to his tally removing Kamran Akmal for only 8. Pakistan slowly nudged towards 200 a important milestone in the context of things. Abdul Razzaq kept nudging the ball around finding the very few gaps available until he too finally perished to a short ball from Hossain which beat Razzaq for bounce and pace. Pakistan eventually were bowled out for 210 giving them a lead vital lead of 78, they added 44 to there over night total from a further 18.5 overs, that itself shows how difficult they found it to score.
Bangladesh had it all to do coming out to bat the second half of the day with 17 overs remaining in the day. As the Bangladesh batsman came out it appeared that Junaid Khan Pakistan's key man with the ball was shockingly made the keeper for Pakistan. (This is a hugely crazy glitch that came about when I promoted Junaid Khan to bat as a nightwatchman replacing Kamran Akaml in the batting line up, and there is no way I can undo this, so Junaid Khan will the keeper and not be able to bowl) Mohammed Irfan and Wahab Riaz opened the bowling at immediately made an impact getting two quick wickets to put Bangladesh on the back foot at 9/2 still trailing by 69. Pakistan could have made further in roads had they not put down 3 catches, Bangladesh batsman A Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim cashed in and built the first half century partnership of the match for Bangladesh. Pakistan realised that the pitch was really not offering anything for the fast bowlers and the Misbah then took pace of the ball by bringing in Abdul Razzaq and the medium pace of young all rounder Umar Amin. Amin obliged by breaking the partnership picking up the key wicket of Rahim with a quicker yorker after a number of slower balls. Razzaq then picked up the captain Shaikb cheaply for 2 with another slower delivery short of a length this time.
Bangladesh reached 86/4 from their 17 overs at the close of play just surpassing the lead Pakistan had. They are now 6 ahead with 6 wickets in hand. They will need to build some solid partnerships to give themselves a fighting chance to go on and win the test match. Pakistan will want to wrap things up as quick as they can as they know batting will become more difficult on this quickly wearing pitch.
Stay tuned for Day 4.
Scores at close of play on day 3.
Bang 1st Inn: 162/10 (32.5 Overs)
Pak 1st Inn: 210/10 (58.5 Overs)
Bang 2nd Inn: 86/4 (17 Overs)
Bang lead by 6 with 6 wickets in hand.
