Rizwan, Shakeel put Pakistan on top against Bangladesh

Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel kept Pakistan aloft over Bangladesh on Day 2 of the first cricket Test by treating the visitors’ toothless bowling in disdain in Rawalpindi today.

Rizwan hit his career-best 171 not out while Shakeel scored 141 as Pakistan declared at 448-6 before Bangladesh reached 27 for no loss at stumps. The visitors are still trailing by 421 runs.

Resuming the day on 158-4, Pakistan kept Bangladesh bowlers at bay with Rizwan and Shakeel finding the gaps with ease to tick the scoreboard rapidly.

Shakeel who rescued the side with 98-run partnership with Saim Ayub after Pakistan were reduced to 16-3 on rain-hit Day 1, brought up his third Test century by pushing a full delivery of Mehidy Hasan Miraz for two.

Beforehand, Rizwan also raised his third Test century when he struck a boundary through deep mid-wicket off Shakib Al Hasan.

With caution and aggression, the duo put up a mammoth 240-run partnership, Pakistan’s fifth highest for the fifth wicket but it was broken when Miraz had Shakeel stumped by Liton Das as he was on 141 off 261 with nine boundaries.

Shakeel may miss the landmark but Rizwan pulled Shoriful Islam for three runs to complete his first ever 150-run mark.

As he looked poised for a double-century, captain Shan Masood declared the innings, keeping in mind that rain may hamper the Test in the later stage.

Rizwan who played 261 balls for his knock, smashed 11 fours and three sixes.

Pace bowlers Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam, who both took two wickets, were excellent on rain-hit Day 1 but both of them failed to add any wicket to their tally on Day 2. Shakib and Miraz scalped one wicket apiece.

Bangladesh openers-Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan-then survived some hostile pace bowling to stay unscathed.

Pakistan’s star pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Nasim Shan swung the ball admirably in both ways with raw pace but Shadman and Zakir showed enough patience to weather it.

As the bails were drawn, Shadman was batting on 12 with Zakir who opened his account in 17th delivery was on 11. (BSS)