BAN Vs PAK Highlights, 1st Test Day 2: Azan Awais Impresses With A Fluent 85 Not Out As Visitors Finish Day At 179/1

Hello, we are back with another live blog as Bangladesh national cricket team take on Pakistan national cricket team in Day 2 of the first Test. Stay tuned for live updates from Dhaka.

In India, the Bangladesh vs Pakistan matches can be watched live on FanCode (app and website). There is no TV broadcast available for Indian viewers.

Dhaka is expected to stay hot and largely sunny for the Test, with temperatures ranging between 27°C and 34°C. Humidity will hover around 49%, and while conditions should mostly remain dry, there is still a 35% chance of rain that could bring brief interruptions. Light winds at around 6 km/h may offer some relief, but overall it remains a challenging, humid day for players in the middle.

Day 2 is up and running in Mirpur! The sun is out, the crowd is slowly finding its voice, and the players are back in the middle for another big day of Test cricket.

Pakistan gather in a huddle before taking their positions, while Bangladesh walk out with plenty of confidence after yesterday’s strong showing. Hasan Ali has the ball in hand and will get us going this morning. All eyes now on the overnight pair, Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim, as Bangladesh look to pile on the pressure. Here we go!

Hasan Ali begins with a probing delivery outside off, pitching it up and getting just a hint of movement away. Mushfiqur Rahim leans forward carefully and guides it gently towards point. A watchful start to the morning, no run.

Shaheen Afridi is getting punished here. Three boundaries in a row now and Litton Das is looking in complete control this morning. Shaheen bangs it in on a back of a length outside off, the ball climbs awkwardly, but Litton adjusts beautifully.

He opens the bat face at the last second and expertly steers it wide of gully to the fence. Classy batting under pressure from the Bangladesh batter.

Mushfiqur Rahim brings up a brilliant half-century for Bangladesh! Shaheen Afridi digs it in short on the pads and the veteran calmly hops across, nudging it away towards square leg for a single.

Up goes the bat, the Mirpur crowd rises in applause, and Mushfiqur takes a quiet moment to soak it all in. Another composed knock from the experienced campaigner.

Mohammad Abbas keeps it tight with a back-of-a-length delivery outside off, but Litton Das stays busy at the crease. He opens the face slightly and glides it neatly past backward point to pick up a single.

Mushfiqur Rahim is looking in sublime touch this morning! Shaheen Afridi overpitches just a fraction on off and the veteran makes him pay instantly. A gorgeous full-faced drive follows as Mushfiqur leans forward gracefully and creams it straight past mid-off for four. Pure timing, pure class from the Bangladesh batter.

Big breakthrough for Pakistan just when Bangladesh were beginning to settle! Litton Das throws his wicket away after looking so fluent out in the middle. Mohammad Abbas drags the length back outside off and the ball climbs a touch more than expected.

Litton goes for an ambitious flat-batted hit down the ground, but the timing completely deserts him. The ball loops tamely towards mid-on where substitute fielder Amad Butt moves across calmly and takes a simple catch.

A disappointing end to a promising knock from Litton, who walks back for 33 off 67. Drinks are taken immediately after the wicket as Pakistan finally get the breakthrough they desperately wanted.

Mohammad Abbas is asking questions straight away! He angles one back in from around off and beats Taijul Islam on the inside edge completely. Pakistan go up in a hopeful lbw appeal as the ball thuds into the pads, but the height saves the Bangladesh batter. Looked comfortably too high and the umpire isn’t interested.

Abbas keeps probing away outside off and Mushfiqur Rahim softly guides this one towards backward point. A single was on offer for a moment, but the veteran quickly decides against it and sends Taijul Islam back. No risks taken here.

Bangladesh bring up 380/7 at Lunch on Day 2, but Pakistan fought back brilliantly in the morning session with disciplined bowling and timely wickets in Mirpur.

Mushfiqur Rahim stood firm amid the collapse, producing another calm and composed innings to move into the seventies, while Litton Das looked fluent before throwing away his start. Mohammad Abbas led the charge superbly for Pakistan, repeatedly hitting the right areas and picking up all three wickets in the session, including Litton, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam.

With the Bangladesh tail now exposed, the post-lunch session could see Mushfiqur shift gears in search of quick runs.

Shaheen Afridi strikes right after lunch with a beauty! He lands it full and gets it to tail back in late, opening up a gap between bat and pad. Mushfiqur Rahim goes forward looking to drive on the rise, but the ball sneaks through the gap and crashes into the off stump, sending it cartwheeling.

A moment of uncertainty for Mushfiqur as he walks back for 71 off 179, falling just short of a well-deserved century. Pakistan break through at a crucial time, with Shaheen providing the spark immediately after the break.

Mohammad Abbas finishes it in style, a five-wicket haul and a big roar as he punches the air in celebration! It’s a cleverly worked short ball at just 121.4kph, aimed right into Ebadot Hossain’s discomfort zone.

The batter is completely caught in a tangle, hopping awkwardly and trying to ride the bounce, but only manages a faint top-edge off the bat.

Behind the stumps, Mohammad Rizwan barely has to move as he completes a simple catch. Ebadot departs for a duck off 10 balls, and Abbas seals his fifer with another masterclass in accuracy and control.

Bangladesh are bowled out for 413 after the final-wicket stand adds crucial runs and stretches Pakistan further than they would have liked. The innings was anchored by three major contributions, Shanto’s superb century, Mominul’s elegant 91, and Mushfiqur Rahim’s composed 71, which had put them in a commanding position at 301/4 overnight.

Pakistan, though, responded strongly on Day 2, with Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Afridi sharing the damage as Abbas once again stood out with a five-wicket haul. The pitch is beginning to show clear signs of wear, making this a highly competitive total.

Bangladesh also carry a strong record into the contest, having never lost a Test after scoring 400 or more in their first innings, setting up an intriguing Pakistan chase ahead.

Openers Azan Awais and Imam-ul-Haq have started the proceeding for Pakistan in the second innings. Both batters have looked comfortable at the crease so far and have stitched a mini-partnership of 15 runs. Bangladesh have posted a huge 413 runs on board and PAK would need a good opening base from these two, so the other batters could build on it.

PAK 15/0 (4)

Imam-ul-Haq is looking is fine touch as he races to 23 off 29 balls including four boundaries. At the other end Azan Awais has adopted a cautious approach and is batting comfortably at 9 off 17 deliveries. Both these openers have started getting their eye in and would want to build on this start.

Tea Break has been taken and Pakistan have got off to a decent start of 50 runs in their first innings. However, they still behind by 363 runs to Bangladesh's first innings total of 413. Both Imam-ul-Haq (28*) and Azan Awais (18*) have looked quite comfortable at the crease and have tackled the BAN pacers well.

BAN 50/0 (10)

The players are back in the field for the final session of Day 2 of the first test. In reply to Bangladesh's huge 413 score of the first innings, Pakistan are off to a solid start with both openers - Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais looking settled at the crease. BAN pacers haven't been able to create much impact with the new ball yet.

PAK 66/0 (12)

Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais are batting well at brisk pace of 4.67 runs per over. Both batters have negated BAN's pace quite well which is why, spin has been introduced by Najmul Hasan Shanto in the form of Mehdy Hasan Miraz. It's well be interesting to see how PAK openers tackle the off-spin of Miraz.

Wicket! Bangladesh have drawn the first blood and it's Mehdy Hasan Miraaz, who traps Imam-ul-Haq at 45 to get the first wicket for Bangladesh. The opening stand is finally broken for 106. Meanwhile, Azan Awais has reached to a well-made half-century off 66 balls.

PAK 106/1 (22)

Azan Awais continues to anchor Pakistan’s innings with a calm and mature knock, moving to 69 off 84 balls. The youngster is rotating strike smartly and keeping the scoreboard ticking despite Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling effort in the middle overs.

Pakistan are a strong position at this stage of the game as after the opening stand of in excess of hundred, Azan Awais (78*) and Abudullah Fazal (27*) have stitched another really good partnership of 56 not out for the 2nd wicket. BAN bowlers have looked ineffective in front of a strong PAK batting display till now.

Mehdy Hasan Miraz delivers the last ball of the day and Abdullah Fazal cautiously defends back to him. Pakistan ends the Day 2 in a strong position with 179/1 in response to Bangladesh's 413 runs in their first innings. Azan Awais built a strong foundation of PAK's innings with a 106-run opening stand and after the wicket of Imam-ul-haq, Awais forged an unbeaten 73-run stand with Abdullah Fazal to end the day on a high note for PAK. However, still a not need to be done for PAK as they still trail by 234 runs.

PAK 179/1 (46)

That's a wrap from our end. We'll be back soon with another blog, until then, bye bye.