Ali misses century feat as Pakistan beat Bangladesh in first Test
ABID ALI fell just shy of back-to-back centuries as Pakistan cruised to an eightwicket win over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chittagong on Tuesday (30).
Ali’s 151-run stand with fellow opener Abdullah Shafique helped bring play to an end before lunch on the final day, beating their firstinnings partnership by five.
The duo had already made 109 overnight, chasing a victory target of 202.
Bangladesh had to wait until the 10th over of the day for their first success, when Mehidy Hasan trapped debutant Shafique lbw on 73 with a fuller delivery.
Shafique, who scored 52 in the first innings, fell after hitting eight fours and a six.
Ali, who made 133 in the first innings, looked poised to become the first Pakistani player to score a century in both innings of a Test match in six years, after Misbah-ulHaq achieved the feat against Australia in 2014.
But Taijul Islam hit him in front of the middle stump with a straight delivery to dismiss him for 91, with Pakistan 31 runs from victory.
“Our thought process was to stay at the wicket and put up a partnership. I have been playing domestic cricket and performing well. That’s what I carried into this game,” said man-of-the-match Ali.
He left the crease to a standing ovation and was also congratulated by Bangladeshi fielders on a splendid 148-ball innings that included 12 boundaries.
Azhar Ali, 24 not out, finished the game in the 59th over after back-to-back boundaries off Mehidy, with skipper Babar Azam unbeaten on 13 at the other end.
Islam finished the game with eight wickets for the hosts, which included 7-116 in the first innings.
“We came back well... and that’s what Test cricket is all about,” said Azam.
“We lost in the first hour in the first innings and second innings as well, but credit to them, especially Afridi and Hasan Ali. They bowled really well,” said Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque.
The hosts scored 330 runs in the first innings and took a 44-run lead after bowling out Pakistan for 286. Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das made 114 runs in the first innings and top-scored in the second with 59.
Hasan Ali, with 5-51 in Bangladesh’s first innings, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who claimed 5-32 in the second innings, shone with the ball for Pakistan.
The second Test will be played at Dhaka’s Sher-eBangla National Stadium from Saturday (4).