Bangladesh's bowlers had a tough day at the office as Pakistan clawed their way back on the second day of first Test in Mirpur, with debutant Azan Awais leading the charge with a dogged, unbeaten 85. Awais, the most prolific domestic run-scorer in Pakistan over the last two seasons, announced himself on the Test arena, putting on a century stand with Imam-ul-Haq before adding another 73 alongside fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal to leave Pakistan 179 for 1 at Stumps, still 234 runs behind Bangladesh's first-innings total of 413.
It was Mohammad Abbas, though, who set the tone for Pakistan's second-day resurgence in the morning session. Bangladesh resumed with intent, Litton Das immediately cracking three boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi's opening over, but Abbas reined things in quickly with a display of canny fast bowling that belied his modest pace. His bouncer - hardly the most feared weapon at his speed - proved to be the difference, deceiving Litton into a mistimed pull that lobbed to substitute fielder Amad Butt at mid-on for 33.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz followed shortly after, lured into an expansive drive through the off side just a delivery after hitting Abbas for six, only to find Imam's hands at slip. Taijul Islam suffered a similar fate, undone by another rearing bouncer he could not keep down. Mushfiqur Rahim resisted stubbornly at the other end but was eventually prised out by Shaheen for 71 just after lunch, an angling delivery doing enough to beat him. Abbas then wrapped up the tail to claim his sixth Test five-wicket haul, a fitting reward for the most inventive bowling of the day.
Taskin Ahmed's breezy 28 off 19 balls helped Bangladesh nudge past 400, but their eventual total of 413 - the highest they have ever posted against Pakistan in a Test - felt somewhat below par after they had been well placed at 338 for 4, losing their last six wickets for 75.
Pakistan's reply began with an hour to go before Tea, and Awais' introduction to Test cricket could hardly have been more unnerving. The first ball Nahid Rana bowled to him was a vicious short delivery that reared up and crashed into his helmet badge, leaving him dazed on the crease. A concussion test followed, but Awais passed and dug in. That early scare seemed only to harden his resolve. Where Imam looked fidgety and uncertain, Awais grew increasingly fluent, threading drives through the covers and working the ball to both sides of the wicket with a maturity that would have impressed the most seasoned observer.
When Nahid went short at him in the final session, Awais dispatched consecutive deliveries to the boundary either side before flicking a full ball to fine leg to bring up three in a row.
Imam's dismissal for 45, trapped in front by Miraz's arm ball after a 106-run opening stand, briefly threatened to shift momentum back toward Bangladesh but another debutant, Fazal, in only his second day of Test cricket, held firm. A reprieve in the final stages - Taskin grassing a slip chance on 28 - helped Fazal see out the day on 37*, and together the two debutants added 73 to extend Pakistan's hopes considerably.
@B0$ Pakistan 179/1 (Azan Awais 85*, Imam-ul-Haq 45; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1-37) trail Bangladesh 413 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 101, Mominul Haque 91; Mohammad Abbas 5-92) by 234 runs
