Tea: Bangladesh 201-3 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 101, Mominul Haque 64*, Mohammad Abbas 1-37) v Pakistan
Najmul Hossain Shanto carried the serene touch he showed during the white-ball leg into the longer format, compiling a measured 101 that steered Bangladesh to 201 for three at tea on day one in Mirpur. His dismissal, lbw to Mohammad Abbas in the last over before the interval, was the only bright spot of the session for Pakistan after the captain had added 170 with the quietly efficient Mominul Haque.
“I tried to treat it like an ODI Powerplay at the start and then slow everything down once I was in,” Shanto said. “Losing my wicket right on tea is frustrating, but the score is still healthy.”
Key facts first
• Shanto reached his ninth Test hundred from 148 balls.
• The third-wicket stand of 170 is Bangladesh’s highest against Pakistan since 2015.
• Pakistan chose to bowl first on a green surface but removed only one batter in the second session.
How the afternoon unfolded
The session began with two maidens, a brief reminder that Abbas and Shaheen Afridi had extracted movement in the morning. Once that shine faded, however, the pitch quietened. A crisp square-drive from Shanto off Abbas eased the pressure and Bangladesh never again looked hurried.
Shan Masood rotated five bowlers in 26 overs, looking for reverse swing, extra pace—anything. Nauman Ali floated his left-arm spin, but Shanto met him with a confident stride and lofted drives over extra cover. One such stroke took him from 96 to 100, celebrated with an instinctive leap and clenched fists.
A ball later came the twist: Abbas changed angle to around the wicket, Rizwan stood up, and a fuller delivery tailed back. The umpire’s original not-out call was overturned when ball-tracking showed it clipping the top of middle. Pakistan’s muted celebration underlined how flat they had been made to feel for most of the afternoon.
Mominul, meanwhile, scored at his own pace—42 from 114 balls at tea—but repeatedly threaded late cuts whenever the seamers offered width. “If they give me that channel, I’m happy to wait all day,” he said at the break.
Morning recap
Masood’s decision to bowl appeared sound when Bangladesh slipped to 31 for two. Afridi found enough seam movement to have Mahmudul Hasan Joy poking outside off, while Abbas used a wobble seam to trap Zakir Hasan. Yet control rather than collapse followed. Shanto and Mominul got through the testing spell, reached lunch at 95 for two, and rarely looked back.
Expert view
Former Pakistan quick Aaqib Javed, on local radio, felt the visiting attack “lacked a genuine 140-plus enforcer once the ball stopped nipping”. Bangladesh bowling coach Allan Donald saw it differently: “There’s still something in that surface. We just have to pitch it up.”
Why the pitch matters
Both captains picked just one specialist spinner, convinced by an even grass covering and stories of a heavier roller. The Mirpur strip, though, generally slows as play progresses. If Pakistan fail to make early dents with the second new ball, day two could be a grind for their seamers.
What happens next
Bangladesh will resume with Mominul set and Mushfiqur Rahim fresh. A total north of 350 would leave Pakistan chasing. Conversely, two early wickets could expose a longish tail; Bangladesh bat only to eight.
Numbers to note
12 – Consecutive Test innings in which Shanto has now crossed 25, underlining new-found consistency.
29 – Balls between boundaries during Pakistan’s most economical spell; Bangladesh never truly stalled.
In short
Bangladesh won the middle of the day thanks to Shanto’s hundred and Mominul’s patience. Pakistan, after a promising first hour, laboured on a docile pitch and must strike quickly with the older ball to prevent the match drifting away.
