Masood fifty helps Pakistan progress smoothly
Shan Masood did everything Najmul Hossain Shanto said he was disappointed Bangladesh didn't as Pakistan began to take control on the second morning in Rawalpindi. Once he got himself in on what was, in truth, a harmless surface under bright sunshine, he refused to give his wicket away, moving on to a half century that took Pakistan to 95 for 2 at lunch, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Both the wickets were thanks to loose shots, Abid Ali slashing at one early on, while Azhar Ali fell in similar fashion shortly before lunch. But the 91-run partnership in between whittled Bangladesh's lead down to under 150, and a well-fed Babar Azam beyond lunch will back himself to bring Pakistan within touching distance by the team the teams break for tea.
Masood understood perfectly what was required in these conditions, sitting back and punching off the back foot through the offside to great effect, while the weight transfer through his shots resulted in him piercing the gap in the covers on numerous occasions. He had struck nine boundaries when he brought up his half-century off just 54 balls, deceptively quick for a man who appeared not to have taken one risk along the way.
The momentum really shifted in the 14th over, when, after a cautious first hour where Bangladesh may have justifiably claimed a share of the spoils, Pakistan feasted on Ebadat Hossain. It began when Azhar clipped him past gully to come back for three, before Shan Masood deposited him to the square boundary either side of the wicket when his lengths wavered. Azhar would join in a couple of deliveries later, pulling the fast bowler from well outside off stump. The over went for 16 and Masood took Rubel Hussain for consecutives fours in the over that followed. Suddenly, the game wasn't poised anymore.
Abu Jayed had, for his part, done his bit at top and tail of the session, drawing complacent shots from Abid Ali and Azhar. They were rewards for being the tightest of the four Bangladesh bowlers, the only one the two men couldn't quite find a regular release shot for.
Even so, Azhar's dismissal was a surprise, the Pakistan captain looking well set and desperate to build on his hundred in Karachi off the back of a torrid run. When Shanto pouched him at first slip, Azhar would slam the bat into the ground in frustration, the anguish as personal as it might have been collective.
Pakistan may still get to call the session theirs, though how the second one goes may end up moulding this one in hindsight much more decisively.
