BD Vs Pak, 2nd Test, Day 3 : Pakistan bat out Day 3 safely without any fireworks

Tags: Pakistan tour of Bangladesh 2011 - 12, Bangladesh vs Pakistan 2nd Test at Mirpur - Dec 17-21, 2011, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Taufeeq Umar

Published on: Dec 19, 2011

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Pakistan decided to bat safely according to the merit of the bowling and thus the Dhaka Test match is heading nowhere towards a possible result. By the close of play on Day 3, the visitors steadily got to 292 for 3 in 96 overs with a run rate of just around three runs per over.

Final Session

Pakistan decided to bat safely according to the merit of the bowling and thus the Dhaka Test match is heading nowhere towards a possible result. By the close of play on Day 3, the visitors steadily got to 292 for 3 in 96 overs with a run rate of just around three runs per over. Pakistan still have a deficit of 46 runs to wipe off before they start building up a big lead.
Bangladesh bowled beautifully with the second new ball as and when it was available in the final session. NazmulHossain with his military medium pace got the ball to move both in the air and off the pitch which troubled the Pakistani batsmen. TaufeeqUmar after receiving several lives finally lost his wicket in the 84th over when he pushed at a late away going delivery from Nazmul to get an edge to second slip. ShahriarNafees pulled off a superb low catch to help NazmulHossain with a well deserved wicket. TaufiqUmar finished his innings with a score of 130 from 256 balls with 16 fours. His partnership with Younus Khan was 95 runs for the 3rd wicket.
New man in - the Pakistani SKipperMisbah-ul-Haq had his troubles against the second new ball but saw through the rest of the day's play comfortably with senior pro Youns Khan. Pakistan scored 75 runs in 25 overs during the final session. Youns Khan finished the day with a steady 48* from 114 balls (with 4 fours) and Misbah-ul-Haq got to 26* from 50 balls with 4 fours.

Afternoon Session
Pakistan eased to 217 for the loss of two wickets in 71 overs at Tea on Day 3.Opener TaufeeqUmar scored his 7th Test century and is batting on 117* from 220 balls with 16 fours in the company of former Skipper Younis Khan who is on a very slow 14* from 52 balls. The visitors are trailing behind by just the 121 runs and are still playing the waiting game while Bangladesh are happy with the slow pace of the match.
The only casualty of the afternoon session was Azhar Ali who played outside the line of his pad in a defensive shot to edge a turning delivery from Shakib Al Hasan to the Bangladeshi SKipper behind the stumps. Azhar was dismissed for 57 which came in 147 balls with 7 fours. Pakistan in the afternoon session gathered 78 runs in the 23 overs that were bowled in the post lunch session.

Morning Session

Pakistan did not lose a single wicket in yet another curtailed morning session in the Mirpur Test. The visitors collected just the 52 runs in the 21 overs that were bowled under murky conditions. TaufeeqUmar and Azhar Ali, the two overnight batsmen helped themselves with unbeaten half centuries but somehow couldn't push the game forward.

There was a lucky escape for Taufeeq this morning when he left the crease for a flick and was done in by a turning delivery down the legside from Shakib Al Hasan. The Bangladeshi Skipper and also Wicket Keeper MushfiqurRahim collected the ball and was busy appealing for a caught behind and it that process forgot to take the bails off in what could have been an easy stumping. The caught behind appeal was turned down by the Umpire and the stumping chance went down begging.

By lunch, TaufeeqUmar moved to 66* (from 141 balls with 9 fours) while Azhar Ali got to 52* (from 136 balls with 6 fours). The visitors are trailing behind Bangladesh by 199 runs.

Update at 9:00 AM local

For the third day in a row, fog has delayed the start of play in the Second and Final Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the ShereBangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The fog today looks very thick and more intense than what it was in the last two days. Already more than 45 overs have been lost in the Test match which could head towards a draw because of these conditions.

Pakistan are at 87 for 1 in 27 overs with a deficit of 251 runs to clear before they can take the game forward for a 2-0 cleansweep.

- BV Swagath

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