PAK vs BAN: Mohammad Rizwan becomes fifth Pakistani wicket-keeper batter to register 150-plus score

Pakistan took on Bangladesh in the first Test in Rawalpindi. The hosts were reeling at 16 runs for the loss of three wickets after Babar Azam departed for a silver duck. Mohammad Rizwan along with Saud Shakeel held the team’s prospects in check and forged a 240-run stand for the fifth wicket. Moreover, Rizwan notched up an unbeaten 171 off 239 balls.

The wicket-keeper batter shares the podium with other stalwarts like Imtiaz Ahmed, Taslim Arif, Rashid Latif, and Kamran Akmal and became the fifth Pakistani wicket-keeper batter to score 150+ runs in an innings. Moreover, the right-handed batter broke the jinx by scoring the first 150+ score by a Pakistani wicketkeeper since 2009.

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Speaking of Shakeel, the southpaw not only stitched a crucial 240-run stand with Rizwan, he also became the joint fastest Pakistani batter to reach 1000 runs landmark. The 28-year-old achieved this feat in 20 innings. He was dismissed for 141 runs in 261 balls with nine boundaries in his resilient knock. Pakistan declared their innings on 448 for six on Day 2. The wicket displayed quite similar traits Shan Masood had highlighted at the toss.

“We were going to bowl first as well, we have never played in Pindi (Rawalpindi) in August before. The pitch has a lot of grass, so yeah it will be quite challenging. It has rained as well, but if we bat well, towards the end of the game with the cracks, it will be tough to bat,” said Masood.

Also Read: PAK vs BAN, First Test, Day 2 Review

Bangladesh bowlers lack solidity on Day 2

Bangladesh entered the innings with 12 overs to go before the end of Day 2. The opening duo of Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan managed to bear the brunt of Pakistan pacers as the visitors ended the day with 27 runs on the board with no wickets lost. While bowling, the Bangla Tigers showed promise on Day 1 but were taken for cleaners on Day 2. Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud chipped in with two wickets each as star all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, managed just one in 27 overs.