Mominul extends impressive run in Tests
Left-hander scores 12th half-century in his first 13 Tests
Mominul Haque scored 80 as Bangladesh made an impressive start in the first Test against Pakistan in Khulna yesterday, reaching 236 for four by stumps on the opening day.
The talented 23-year-old left-hander batted fluently to cross 50 for the 12th time in his first 13 Tests before being trapped leg-before by Zulfiqar Babar off the last ball of the day.
Opener Imrul Kayes made 51, Mohammad Mahmudullah scored 49 and Shakib Al Hassan was unbeaten on 19 after the hosts elected to bat first in good batting conditions.
Mominul has scored a halfcentury or more in his last 10 Tests. Only four batsmen — Viv Richards of the West Indies, South Africa’s AB de Villiers and the Indian duo of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag — have scored more 50s in consecutive Test matches.
Mominul put on 40 for the second wicket with Imrul, 95 for the third with Mahmudullah and 49 for the fourth with Shakib as Pakistan’s bowlers toiled for success on an unhelpful pitch.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, off-break bowler Mohammad Hafeez, left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar claimed a wicket each, but Pakistan were let down by shoddy catching and fielding.
The most expensive let-off was by Zulfiqar, who spilled a simple return catch when Mominul was on 17.
Yasir broke a 52-run opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul just before lunch by having Tamim (25) caught at forward short-leg by Azhar Ali.
Yasir, who had missed the preceding limited-overs series due to injury, ended the day with figures of one for 58 in 18 overs.
Imrul survived a strong legbefore appeal off the third ball of the innings from Junaid Khan as the TV umpire turned down Pakistan’s review.
Hafeez, who dropped Tamim at leg slip off Zulfiqar when he was on 16, made amends by taking a return catch to dismiss Imrul after lunch.