Pakistan recover through Masood-Babar after Bangladesh early wickets

Bangladesh’s bowlers dominated the morning session, reducing Pakistan to 96/4. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and offspinner Mehidy Hasan shared four crucial wickets. Early damage: Taskin removed openers Fazal for 13 and Azan Awais for 9. Mehidy then dismissed captain Shan Masood for 21 with a sharp catch in the covers, before trapping Saud Shakeel cheaply. Pakistan trailing by 182 runs. Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais held out for the first half-hour, but Bangladesh had kept the run-scoring to a minimum. The first breakthrough came, perhaps unsurprisingly, through Nahid Rana, who banged in a short ball that Fazal's attempt to turn towards gully only found the fielder, who scooped his hands underneath it just before it touched the ground. While Pakistan saw off the remainder of Rana's spell, Mehidy Hasan Miraz inflicted another damaging blow, getting one to carry on with the line to Awais and hit him on the front pad, the opener's anguished review failing to save him. Masood and Babar’s Counter-Attack With Pakistan reeling, captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam tried to stabilize. Masood scored 21 before falling to Mehidy. Babar Azam top-scored with 68 on his comeback to the side following injury. Masood had backed Babar pre-series to carry his PSL form - 588 runs at 73.02 avg, SR 145.90 - into Tests, calling him "one of the best batsmen Pakistan has ever produced". It came thanks to a punched boundary off the back foot from Babar as Taijul Islam erred in length. The last six overs produced 46 runs as Pakistan brought up the 100, and though this is a positive little partnership, Pakistan will know they need much more than that if they are to make a dent in this record chase. Bottom line: Bangladesh’s Taskin and Mehidy rocked Pakistan early to 96/4. Masood made 21 and Babar countered with 68, but Pakistan collapsed to 232. Bangladesh ended Day 2 firmly in control at 110/3, lead 156.