BAN vs PAK Highlights, 1st Test Day 2: Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal steady Pakistan innings

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, FOUR! Azan gets lucky here as the edge flies through the slip cordon for four. Azan Awais moves to 99. Short and wide outside off, Azan Awais accepts the width on offer and slashes hard at it. Gets it top-edge that goes to the left of second slip and races to the fence for four. 

Nahid Rana to Abdullah Fazal, Short-pitched delivery, on leg, Abdullah Fazal gets up on his toes and tucks this through fine leg for a single. 

Nahid Rana to Abdullah Fazal, Back of a length, around off, Abdullah Fazal blocks this off his front foot. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Fired into the batter, Azan Awais keeps it out.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Floated on leg, Azan Awais strides out in front and blocks this around silly mid on. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Fuller on off, Azan Awais defends this off his front foot. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Abdullah Fazal, Pushed through on middle and leg, Abdullah Fazal milks this through mid-wicket for a single. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Abdullah Fazal, Full and on off, Abdullah Fazal blocks this off his front foot. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Quicker one, on the pads, Azan Awais tucks this towards the left of mid on and rotates the strike.

Nahid Rana to Abdullah Fazal, On a length, around off, Abdullah Fazal leans ahead and keeps it out. 

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, Pitched up, around off, Azan Awais drives this to sweeper cover for a single. 

Deep square leg has been positioned along with fine leg. Short stuff ploy on the cards...

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, Bluff from Rana as he bowls this on a length, around off, Azan Awais was up for it and blocks this off his front foot. 

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, Full and on off, Azan Awais drives this to wide long off for no run.

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, FOUR! Cruise control from Azan. Short-pitched delivery, on middle and off, Azan Awais gets on top of the bounce and pulls this past the left of the fielder at mid-wicket for a boundary. Into the nervous 90s is Azan in his first Test. 

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, Hard length, on off, Azan Awais blocks this off his back foot. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Pushed through on middle and leg, Azan Awais goes deep inside the crease and punches this through extra cover for a run. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Abdullah Fazal, Quicker one, on off, Abdullah Fazal pushes this through covers and takes a single. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Abdullah Fazal, Fazal is showing signs of early nervousness. Tossed up, around off, Abdullah Fazal pushes this firmly towards mid off and was off for a single. The fielder gathers this clean and throws it towards the keeper. Fazal turns back just in time. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Short of a length, around off, Mehidy Hasan Miraz rocks back inside the crease and cuts this to deep point for a single. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Abdullah Fazal, Floated around off, Abdullah Fazal rolls this in front of mid off and takes a quick single. Ebadot Hossain did not gather this cleanly and that made life easier for the batters. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Fuller around off, Azan Awais leans onto the pitch of the ball and drives this through covers for a run. 

Will it be spin from the other end or will Ebadot Hossain get a go? Well, it is going to be spin from Mehidy Hasan Miraz straightaway from the other end. 

Nahid Rana to Abdullah Fazal, Good length, around off, Abdullah Fazal blocks this up on his toes. 

Nahid Rana to Abdullah Fazal, A cracking delivery. Short and around off, Abdullah Fazal looks to push this off his back foot but the ball keeps climbing on the batter and beats him on the outside. 

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, First runs on Day 3. Good length, around the hips of Azan. The southpaw flicks this to fine leg for a single. 

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, On a length, into the batter. Azan Awais hangs onto his back foot and blocks this towards mid-wicket. 

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, Back of a length, around off, Azan Awais guides this to third slip for no run.

Nahid Rana to Azan Awais, Right in the channel, around off, in that corridor of uncertainty. Azan Awais doesn't move his feet much and has a poke at it away from his body. Gets beaten on the outside edge. A bit of noise as the ball passes the bat and Rana was curious about it but nobody supported him. 

We are all set for the action to begin on Day 3. Azan Awais will take strike with Abdullah Fazal at the other end. For Bangladesh, it will be Nahid Rana to open the proceedings.

PITCH REPORT ON DAY 3 - Athar Ali Khan says that surface remains excellent for batting on this pivotal moving day, though it presents specific challenges for both sides.  Khan reckons that with seven left-handers in the Pakistan lineup, bowlers must maintain a disciplined line tight to the stumps, as the pitch offers little margin for wide deliveries. Athar mentions that while the track is currently holding up, cracks are expected to open further as play progresses, demanding that batters focus on playing strictly to the merit of the ball. Khan concludes by saying that the primary objective for the bowling attack is to remain patient and consistently keep the stumps in play to exploit any developing unevenness.

Shaheen Afridi is up for a chat - Shaheen says that the surface on the first day was a bit double-paced but on Day 2, the surface had become better for batting and their bowling unit was looking at the right areas and it worked in their favor. Shaheed credits Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal for their solid batting display, saying they are the future and it is good to see them play well against a quality bowling unit. Shaheen adds that the first session of Day 3 will be key and if they can win it, they'll be ahead in the contest. 

The path to an upper hand - To gain the upper hand today, both teams must execute their plans with surgical precision. Bangladesh's bowlers, particularly their spinners like Mehidy Hasan Miraz, need to exploit the pitch's wear to dry up runs and force mistakes. Disciplined line and length from the seamers will also be crucial to prevent the Pakistani batters from scoring freely. On the other hand, Pakistan must maintain their current composure. The set batters, Awais and Fazal, need to dig deep and bat for long periods, as every run added without losing a wicket exponentially increases the pressure on the hosts. The side that wins the morning session will likely find themselves in the driver's seat as this tactical battle unfolds.

Moving day - As we step into Day 3, the classic moving day of Test cricket, the match stands beautifully poised. Historically, this is the day where the game's direction is often decided. A dominant session for either side can either shut the door on the opposition or open up a path to victory. For Bangladesh, this day is about breaking through the set partnership of the young Pakistani debutants and exposing the middle order to the turning ball. For Pakistan, the goal is to convert this solid start into a substantial first-innings lead. With a thunderstorm around, it will be keen to see how the weather plays and how can the Bangladesh bowlers benifit from the overcast conditions. 

Pakistan’s second-day surge - The narrative shifted on Day 2 as Pakistan’s bowlers, led by a relentless Mohammad Abbas, clawed their way back into the contest. Abbas’s masterful five-wicket haul dismantled the Bangladeshi middle and lower order, eventually bowling the hosts out for 413. Not to be outdone, Pakistan’s batting unit responded with remarkable composure. Debutant Azan Awais played a standout innings, reaching a maiden Test half-century and remaining unbeaten on 85 by stumps. Along with Abdullah Fazal and a scratchy but crucial knock of 45 from Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan reached 179/1, significantly narrowing the deficit and ensuring the second day belonged firmly to them.

Bangladesh’s opening statement - Hello and welcome to everyone tuning in. The first day of this encounter was a masterclass in resilience and aggression from the hosts. After Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl on a greenish surface, Bangladesh found themselves under early pressure. However, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto rose to the occasion, hammering a magnificent, attacking century that stabilized the innings and shifted the momentum. Supported by solid half-centuries from Mominul Haque and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh ended the opening day in a commanding position, having turned a shaky start into a formidable foundation. 

... DAY 3, SESSION 1 ...

Day 2 concludes - The second day’s play concludes with Pakistan trailing in the contest, yet they find themselves in a promising position with almost their entire batting lineup still intact. While the match remains finely balanced, the upcoming sessions face a significant threat as rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Day 3. The action is scheduled to resume at 4 AM GMT on May 10, 2025, with both sides eager to see how the conditions influence the battle for control. Adios. 

Pakistan are on top at the moment - Into the final stretch of the day, Pakistan kept their heads down and showed real grit. They pushed their score past the 100-run mark, looking entirely in control of the chase. But just when it seemed like a flawless finish for the visitors, Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck for Bangladesh, removing the dangerous Imam-ul-Haq for a well-made 45. At the halfway stage of the final session, Pakistan were 110/1. Even in the last phase of the day's play, Pakistani debutant just did not play the day out but they kept the foot on the accelerator and scored at a healthy clip. Azan remains unbeaten on 85 and is well set for the three-figure mark on his debut game, whereas Fazal was slow to kickstart but has picked up the pace of the game really well and will be heading into the dressing room with an unbeaten 37. Pakistan ends the day at 179 for 1 and are still trailing by 234 runs. 

Pakistan started well in their innings - Going after a big total, Pakistan had absolutely no interest in just surviving. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais came out swinging with total confidence. They completely frustrated the Bangladesh pacers, smashing boundaries and racing to 50 for no loss by Tea. The pitch was nice to bat on and the Pakistan batters made the most of it.

Pakistan dominated post-Lunch as well - Pakistan ruthlessly cleaned up the tail, bowling Bangladesh out finally for 413. Abbas was absolutely surgical with his lines, finishing with a brilliant five-wicket haul. Shaheen Afridi delivered the knockout punch, knocking over Mushfiqur for a hard-fought 71 and ending a quick counter-attack from Taskin Ahmed. The momentum completely shifted into Pakistan's corner.

Abbas brought the heat on Day 2! Pakistan's bowlers finally woke up on Day 2. Mohammad Abbas was the absolute star, finding some life in the pitch and snapping up all three wickets to fall. Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz looked good early on but threw their wickets away. However, the veteran Mushfiqur Rahim stood like a wall, bringing up a gritty fifty to guide Bangladesh to a commanding 380/7 by the lunch break.

STUMPS ON DAY 2! Session 1 - 24 Overs were bowled, where 79 runs were scored for the loss of 3 wickets Session 2 - 18.1 Overs were bowled, where 83 runs were scored for the loss of 3 wickets Session 3 - 36 Overs were bowled, where 129 runs were scored for the loss of 1 Wicket

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Abdullah Fazal, Floated, fuller, on off and middle. Abdullah Fazal leans toward the delivery and defends it down the track. That's it for STUMPS ON DAY 2!

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Abdullah Fazal, Shorttish yet again, angling in, around the leg stump. Abdullah Fazal goes deep into the crease and clips it toward deep fine leg to get a couple of runs.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Abdullah Fazal, Short, on middle, Abdullah Fazal rests it to the leg side.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Miraz pulls his length back, outside off. Azan Awais pushes it opening the face of the bat to guide it past the silly point fielder and gets a single.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Flatter and fuller, on the stumps. Azan Awais blocks it on his front foot.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azan Awais, Flater and fuller, on middle. Azan Awais defends it from the inner half of his bat to the leg side.

Taskin Ahmed to Abdullah Fazal, Ahmed once again goes back, over the wicket, and angles this one across the line, on the back of a length. Abdullah Fazal lifts his willow up and offers no shot at it. 7 runs from the over!