Bangladesh Cricket News

Donald not interested in Bangladesh coaching job

Allan Donald, the South Africa bowling coach, has denied claims linking him to the Bangladesh coaching job. Donald, along with Mick Newell and Dermot Reeve, was understood to be on the BCB's wishlist but said he will not consider the offer if he is approached.

"I have not had any approach but I would not be interested," Donald told ESPNcricinfo. "I am doing a job I always wanted to be involved in and I have no inclination to make a move. My interest is with South Africa and I won't give that up at all."

Donald was named South Africa's bowling coach in June last year, when the national team management underwent a complete change of guard. Gary Kirsten replaced Corrie van Zyl as coach and headhunted his former team-mate Donald.

At the time, Donald was in the process of finalising an agreement with New Zealand, where he had worked as bowling coach. Donald was part of the New Zealand management when they defeated South Africa in the 2011 World Cup quarterfinals and was on the verge of signing for a full-time role when Kirsten came calling. Donald immediately cancelled his deal with New Zealand to take up a position which he said he "always wanted to do."

Donald had previously had roles as England bowling consultant and had done work in Zimbabwe but had not coached in South Africa, even at domestic level. He had often expressed his desire to work in the country he had played for, but opportunities were few. Only when Kirsten chose to involve him did Donald get a taste of coaching in South Africa.

Donald has also been allowed to explore other options while with South Africa. He is currently in India for the IPL, where he is working as Pune Warriors' bowling coach.

Donald is the second South African bowling coach to catch the BCB's eye. They also targeted Vincent Barnes, who was South Africa's bowling coach for eight years from 2003, when Jamie Siddons resigned mid-2011. Barnes turned down the Bangladesh job and opted for a role at South Africa's High Performance Centre instead.

Bangladesh Win India Out, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup, Mirpur

Bangladesh 212 for 5 (Tamim 59, Shakib 56, Nasir 36*) beat Sri Lanka 232 (Kapugedera 62, Nazmul 3-32) by five wickets by D/L method  

Bangladesh made it to the final of the Asia Cup, defying pre-tournament expectations with consecutive victories against their more fancied neighbours. It was only the second time they had reached the finals of a one-day tournament. The bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 232, but rain siphoned off ten overs and reduced the target to 212. The increased asking-rate, 5.30 an over, gave both teams a chance, but enterprising batting by Tamim Iqbal on a spiced-up pitch gave their chase a kickstart. The Bangladesh middle order withstood the pressure and gave the expectant crowd a reason to show up in similar numbers for the final, on Thursday.

Nasir Hossain proved once again why he is the find of the season for Bangladesh and Tamim put the farce of his earlier non-selection to rest. Nasir's calm half-century partnership with Mahmudullah ensured Bangladesh did not implode in the rush for a quick finish. The sea of green jerseys in the crowd were rewarded for staying in their seats even as Sri Lanka clawed back. Many clasped their hands in prayer once Bangladesh lost their fifth wicket, Shakib Al Hasan, but the temperament of the sixth-wicket pair showed why Bangladesh could start the finals not as underdogs, but contenders. India, waiting on the result of this game, will be headed home despite a better net run-rate because they lost to Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka were pegged back at the very beginning, when another Hossain, Nazmul, coming in for the injured Shafiul Islam, nipped out three top-order wickets. The middle order, led by Chamara Kapugedera, gave the innings some respectability, but Sri Lanka were not able to post a challenging score on a ground on which two big chases had already been completed in the tournament.

A mid-innings downpour gave the pitch the kind of zip missing during the afternoon. Lasith Malinga tested the top order with bouncers that fizzed past the helmet, while Nuwan Kulasekara got the ball to swerve in to the right-handers to castle Nazimuddin and flummox the captain Mushfiqur Rahim.

Bangladesh were three down for 40, but the passage of play was punctuated by some blistering strokeplay by Tamim. His balance and follow-through were exemplary, especially in his driving through the off side. Mahela Jayawardene tried to plug that gap with a short point, and later with two fielders up close at cover and extra cover, but Tamim was not deterred. He lofted one over the covers and then whipped consecutive boundaries through midwicket, showing his class on both sides of the wicket.

Shakib, after passing a tough test against some short bowling, settled in and crashed Suranga Lakmal for three consecutive boundaries through the off side. Tamim reached his half-century with a clip for four off Farveez Maharoof, and his pleasing strokeplay won the applause of the country's premier Sheikh Hasina, also in attendance. He was dropped by Sachitra Senanayake, after lobbing a simple chance back to the bowler, but Senanayake finally got his man when an uppish slash was taken at point. Tamim walked back to a hush from the expectant crowd, with their hopes pinned on Shakib.

Shakib's battle with Senanayake was a compelling one. Shakib got on top of him initially with boundaries over extra cover, but once the bowler shortened his length, Shakib looked edgy. Unsure of the bounce, he stabbed at two consecutive deliveries and nearly lobbed both for catches. Senanayake got one to skid through and trapped him in front of leg stump to give Sri Lanka hope, with the hosts still 77 runs adrift.

Sri Lanka were guilty of easing the pressure on the batsmen by feeding them balls full on the pads, which were clipped away to fine leg. Nasir and Mahmudullah kept out the inswinging yorkers, did not panic when they played the ball to the fielders, and calmly picked up singles. Tillakaratne Dilshan was brought on after the quicks failed to take wickets, but the pair didn't change their approach. A firm push by Nasir was parried by mid-on to the boundary, leading to wild celebrations and a victory lap.

The win was set up by Nazmul, who removed the power trio of Jayawardene, Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara. Jayawardene missed a straight one, Dilshan chopped a delivery onto his stumps and Sangakkara spooned a catch to extra cover, bringing an end to an indifferent season with the bat for him.

Bangladesh came out with a sense of purpose, fielding with intent after winning the toss. They were aided by a surface which, though not the same used for the India-Pakistan game, appeared slower and suited their crop of bowlers. The medium-pacers bowled several slower deliveries to tighten the noose on the run-rate.

Kapugedera and Lahiru Thirimanne added 88 for the fourth wicket, but one of them needed to bat through the innings to set a competitive target. Upul Tharanga made a breezy 48*, but not for the first time since his demotion, he had to repair the damage done upfront, again raising questions about the structure of the batting line-up.

Kapugedera, under pressure to keep his place, made good use of his promotion, using his feet to the spinners. A stroke of luck, though, gave Bangladesh the breakthrough when Thirimanne missed a nudge off Abdur Razzak and was stumped after the ball deflected off Mushfiqur's pads onto the stumps.

Tharanga's arrival perked up the scoring, as he punished a wayward Shahadat Hossain for three quick boundaries. Kapugedera managed a face-saving half-century, but his innings was cut short by a sharp reflex-catch by Shakib at extra cover. Shakib struck with the ball soon after, getting two wickets. Boundaries by the lower order pushed Sri Lanka to 232, but one could sense that was always going to be inadequate.

It ended a mixed season for a travel-weary Sri Lanka, following the highs of Australia. Not too long ago, India were in their hotel rooms in Brisbane, hoping for a Sri Lankan defeat to push them into the CB Series finals. This time, in a hotel not far from the ground, they were ironically hoping for a Sri Lankan win. There were no back-door entries for a team which has suffered its worst away season in recent history.

Smart stats

• Bangladesh reached the finals of a multi-nation tournament for only the second time. In their only previous final, in a home tri-nation tournament in 2009, they lost by two wickets to Sri Lanka after having reduced them to 6 for 5.
• Bangladesh's win is only their third against Sri Lanka and their second against a Test-playing team in this tournament. The last time Bangladesh beat two Test-playing nations in a single tournament was in the 2007 World Cup when they defeated India and South Africa.
• Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the final of the Asia Cup for the first time. It is also the eighth time in Asia and the second time in multi-team tournaments in the subcontinent that Sri Lanka have failed to win a single match.
• Shakib Al Hasan's half-century is his 24th in ODIs and his third against Sri Lanka. His strike-rate of 121.73 is his fourth-highest for a fifty-plus score.
• Tamim Iqbal scored his third consecutive half-century of the tournament and became only the third Bangladesh batsman, after Mohammad Ashraful and Shahriar Nafees, to score three consecutive fifties in an ODI series.
• The 76-run stand between Shakib and Tamim is the fifth-highest fourth-wicket stand for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka. Shakib has been involved in three of the top five partnerships.
• The 88-run stand between Chamara Kapugedera and Lahiru Thrimanne is the fourth-highest fourth-wicket stand for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh v India, Asia Cup, Mirpur,ODI,Bangladesh Beat India By 5 Wickets

Bangladesh 293 for 5 (Tamim 70, Nasir 54, Jahurul 53, Shakib 49, Mushfiqur 46*) beat India 289 for 5 (Tendulkar 114, Kohli 66, Raina 51) by five wickets 

Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan delivered an improbable win for Bangladesh that left Sachin Tendulkar's record 100th international century in the shade and threw the Asia Cup wide open. As the focus remained on Tendulkar's achievement for most of the match, Bangladesh did what they had threatened to do in the tournament opener against Pakistan - they showed that they could chase big totals under pressure against Test opposition.

Bangladesh had asked India to bat knowing that chasing has been easier on the Mirpur pitch in this tournament than batting first. Though the strategy had not worked against Pakistan, India did not have an Umar Gul or a Saeed Ajmal to stop a side hungrier than they were for success.

Shakib and Mushfiqur did not succumb to the gnawing tension that an asking-rate of above eight runs an over brings. Instead, India's bowlers crumbled against their aggression. Shakib blitzed 49 off 31 deliveries and were it not for a close stumping decision going against him, might have finished the game on his own.

With 66 needed off 50 deliveries, Shakib was adjudged stumped off R Ashwin with replays showing enough doubt for the benefit to have gone to the batsman. Mushfiqur, who had said yesterday that India's thin bowling unit gave Bangladesh confidence, slammed 46 off 25 as Bangladesh won with four deliveries left.

A steady build-up from Tamim Iqbal and Jahurul Islam had left Bangladesh with a climbing asking-rate. With Nasir Hossain in control at one end, Shakib gave Bangladesh hope with hitting that was as uninhibited as it was daring. He took 18 runs off the 37th over, bowled by Ashok Dinda, with a couple of swings over midwicket and thick edge to third man. R Ashwin dropped it short, and was punched and pulled for boundaries. It was now Irfan Pathan's turn. A slash followed another pull, and the momentum had shifted in Bangladesh's favour.

India managed to sneak in some quiet overs after Shakib fell. It came down to 37 needed off 24. India's quick bowlers were having problems in controlling their deliveries and full tosses had been dished out often. The 48th over was when it fell apart for them. Irfan bowled a wide outside off stump. MS Dhoni ran upto him with some advice. Irfan bowled a length ball on Mushfiqur's pads next. Flicked over deep square leg for six. A stern-looking Dhoni had more words for Irfan. A high full toss followed from around the wicket. Swung over deep midwicket for six more.

With 16 needed off 12, Praveen began the 49th over with a waist-high no-ball. Sliced over point for four. A length delivery followed. Mushfiqur wound up and dispatched it over long-on. Game over. Mushfiqur roared on the field; Shakib did an encore in the dressing room. Bangladesh had only their third ODI win over their big neighbours.

When Tamim and Jahurul were ensuring that Bangladesh did not lose too many wickets during the middle overs, it had seemed that Bangladesh were not far away from coming short against the stiff asking-rate. Tamim again displayed his recent penchant for buckling down to play a long innings while Jahurul picked up the scoring after a slow start. The duo kept getting the odd boundary but could not really dominate. They fell after reaching their fifties, trying to keep up with the requirement, but Shakib and Mushfiqur stunned India with their refusal to give in.

Defeat would have been the last thing on India's minds when, after a year of hype and expectation, Tendulkar got his 100th international century in the country where he had equalled Sunil Gavaskar's then-record 34 Test centuries in 2004 on way to his highest Test score. It wasn't one of Tendulkar's better hundreds and will ultimately be remembered only for being the one that brought up the unprecedented landmark. In fact, it was his second-slowest innings of 100-plus in ODIs and ended up restricting India's progress. They ended up on 289 for 5, an underwhelming outcome considering their power-packed batting line-up had had a platform of 173 for 1 in the 36th over.

Bangladesh's attack was persevering but limited. Tendulkar duly milked them to finally go past a landmark that hardly anyone knew existed before he got close to it, but put tremendous pressure on the player himself in a frenzied build-up that lasted a year.

Tendulkar had motored to 80 off 102 deliveries but took another 36 before he took his hundredth run, off Shakib Al Hasan. The monkey off his back, he belatedly took charge, hitting consecutive boundaries off Shahadat Hossain before a slog ended up in the keeper's hands. Tendulkar's departure came immediately after Suresh Raina's brisk innings had ended after having kept India going amid his senior partner's quest for the century. Raina hit 51 off 38 and built on a 148-run second-wicket partnership between Tendulkar and Kohli, who looked set to become the first India batsman to score three consecutive ODI hundreds until he played on for a breezy 66.

The hosts should have had Kohli with the first ball of the sixth over, when Shafiul Islam struck him on the back leg in front of middle stump, but umpire Paul Reiffel remained unmoved. Kohli's form took over after that, and with Tendulkar batting as safely as he does during some of his long Test innings, India motored along without giving Bangladesh half a chance more.

Bangladesh had themselves to blame for allowing Tendulkar to settle with a generous sprinkling of wide deliveries from their fast bowlers. His first four scoring shots were all boundaries, as he cashed in on width to drive and punch through the off side.

Shafiul had Gautam Gambhir playing on early off a forcing flat-footed drive, but Kohli did not take long to get going after his reprieve. The field hardly moved as he flicked and cover-drove for fours in consecutive overs.

Spin was expected to be a major factor on a dry-looking pitch but Tendulkar and Kohli negotiated Bangladesh's slow army without any problems. The scoring-rate did take a slight beating as singles dominated but Tendulkar soon found the freedom to slog sweep Shakib Al Hasan over wide long-on. With his feet moving precisely now, he made room to cart Shakib inside-out over extra cover to reach his first international fifty in 13 innings. As he passed 80, Tendulkar took his time amid some nerves. Meanwhile, after having contemptuously worked his way to another fifty, Kohli played on against Abdur Razzak.

Raina's slog sweeps and lofted shots over extra cover kept the runs coming, though, but Tendulkar was clearly feeling the pressure at the other end. He played out a maiden to Mashrafe Mortaza on 83, and on several occasions took off for non-existent singles before being sent back. The century arrived in the 44th over, and Tendulkar's relief was evident. With the innings in need of a final burst, Dhoni slammed 16 off the 50th over to get India to 289, but for once Bangladesh chased with as much faith as their fans have in their team.

Tendulkar Reaching 1 ton International Century's In Bangladesh v India, Asia Cup, Mirpur ODI

Tendulkar scores his 100th international century

Sachin Tendulkar  became the first batsman to make a 100 international centuries, getting to the milestone against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla stadium in Mirpur at 5:05pm local time on March 16, 2012. It ended a year-long wait for one of the most discussed landmarks in cricket history, and was his first ODI hundred against Bangladesh, completing his set of centuries against every Full Member country in both Tests and ODIs.

He reached the 100th hundred in the 44th over with a nudge behind square leg, one of his favoured strokes to reach a century. Despite the huge amount of hype surrounding the landmark, which has shown little sign of abating despite the prolonged wait, there was no over-the-top celebration. The helmet came off and there was a wave of the bat, he looked up at the sky, as he usually does on reaching a hundred, and he acknowledged his team-mates by raising his helmet towards the dressing room. Several of the Bangladesh fielders congratulated him, even as the decibel-level in the packed stadium reached new highs.

It was not one of Tendulkar's most swashbuckling innings, more about efficient accumulation early on, before slowing down further as he neared the century, finally completing it off 138 deliveries. Tendulkar's achievement might have come against one of the weaker teams and in the league game of a low-key competition, but he still had to brave a raucous and partisan crowd. Once he reached the eighties, every dot ball he faced was loudly cheered. The Bangladeshi chant expressing displeasure, Bhua bhua, also rang out from sections of the stadium as he batted.

Barring a near stumping opportunity on 51, Tendulkar had been largely untroubled until he progressed closer to the milestone. Several times he had to scramble back after attempting a single on dropping the ball towards cover or midwicket, prompting delight from the fans. The pressure was further built up by a maiden from Mashrafe Mortaza when Tendulkar was on 83, and several well-struck shots didn't beat the fielders. He was nearly run out soon after, trying to pinch a single to backward point.

A lofted drive over extra cover in the 40th over and several singles took him to 99, which was when the crowd began to support Tendulkar, standing up and cheering in anticipation. Though India were past 200 with only two wickets down, Bangladesh tried to stifle Tendulkar by keeping seven fielders in the circle. The single to square leg finally brought an end to the anxious wait for the 100th hundred, another mark of the longevity of the man who already has the most runs and has played the most matches in Tests and ODIs.

Pakistan Beat Bangladesh In Asiacup 1st Match

Pakistan manages to pull it off in a thrilling opener

Mohammad Hafeez laid the ghosts of the past month to rest on a warm Sunday night at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium though Bangladesh briefly threatened to upset Pakistan in the Asia Cup's opening match.

During Pakistan's tame show against England in the limited-overs jousts (ODI and Twenty20) at the United Arab Emirates, Hafeez failed in his twin roles of batting and off-spin. In seven games, he tallied 84 runs and got three wickets.

Man of the hour

On a day, when the game alternated between its phases of free-fall and fluid shots, Hafeez's 89 and two wickets, proved crucial and helped Pakistan snatch a 21-run victory over the host while Shakib Al Hasan's resilience (64, 66b, 4x4) offered futile hopes to the local fans. Pakistan scored 262 for eight and bowled out Bangladesh for 241.

Bangladesh was in with a sniff when 68 runs were required in the last ten overs while Shakib and Nasir Hossain seemed at ease. Nasir clattered a six off Saeed Ajmal and when Umar Gul angled a delivery in to his ribs, the riposte was a whip down fine-leg.

Delicate strokes

Meanwhile Shakib in his calm ways, exhaled with delicate strokes against Ajmal and Aizaz Cheema. The script changed when Gul cleaned up Nasir in the 44th over and the tail proved inept against Ajmal.

The pursuit had commenced when Misbah-ul-Haq's gambit of opening his attack with Hafeez and Gul failed to unsettle the Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal (64, 89b, 6x4, 1x6) and Mohammad Nazimuddin.

Tamim looked at ease despite the dilly-dallying over his inclusion in the squad ahead of the tournament. He cut Hafeez while Nazimuddin flicked Gul for a six over backward square-leg.

Nazimuddin however perished with a hoick against Cheema but Tamim continued unhindered. Ajmal was greeted with a six and later when Gul returned for the second spell, a cover drive was essayed with finesse.

The fifty was registered but his exaggerated celebration triggered the fear that he may be satiated with the effort while Bangladesh still needed to score at six an over.

The apprehensions were not unfounded as he tried to cut Hafeez when the delivery hardly offered width.

In between the hope and pathos of Tamim's knock, Shahid Afridi had rattled the timber twice with Jahurul Islam and Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim being the befuddled victims.

Tightening its hold

Pakistan tightened its hold when Hafeez immediately prised out Mahmudullah and though the visitor's grip slackened when Shakib threaded his runs, hierarchy was eventually restored.

Earlier, Pakistan frittered away the fine start crafted by openers Hafeez (89, 126b, 7x4) and Nasir Jamshed (54, 64b, 5x4, 1x6) before Gul lashed crucial runs in the slog.

After Mushfiqur opted to field, Hafeez and Nasir bided their time in the first ten overs that yielded 36.

However signs of comfort were visible in the way Hafeez leant in to his drives and Nasir picked his spots in the on-side against the seamers.

Hafeez did struggle when his penchant to lunge forward proved cumbersome against Shakib. An inner edge off the left-arm spinner narrowly missed the stumps but Hafeez hung in and swatted Abdur Razzak while Nasir carved Shakib for a six.

Big stand

The openers added 135 runs over 167 deliveries and then Pakistan suffered its first breach. Hafeez pushed Razzak to point and Nasir hustled him into a precarious single.

Shakib's throw left Nasir stranded and that led to a strange passage of play in which Misbah's men lost their heads with poor shot-selection.

Younis Khan closed the bat face a touch too early against Shahadat Hossain and spooned a catch.

And from 162 for two in 32.5 overs, Pakistan began to implode. Shahadat Hossain banged it short, Hafeez miscued a pull and similar across-the-line shots marred the innings.

The batting Power Play (overs 36 to 40) undid the visitor with 22 runs coming at a cost of three wickets and overall Pakistan lost six batsmen while moving from 162 to 198.

Asad Shafiq pulled without conviction, Umar Akmal perished with the slog-sweep, Shahid Afridi lobbed his first delivery back to a juggling Shakib and Misbah misread Razzak.

Gul (39) then stepped in with his hefty strikes against Mortaza, who finally scalped his tormentor. In the end, Gul's effort proved equally critical for Pakistan.

Scoreboard:

Pakistan: Md. Hafeez c Shafiq b Shahadat 89 (126b, 7x4), N. Jamshed (run out) 54 (64b, 5x4, 1x6), Younis c Razzak b Shahadat 12 (15b, 1x4), U. Akmal c Razzak b Shakib 21 (20b, 2x4), A. Shafiq c Mortaza b Shahadat 4 (6b), Misbah b Razzak 8 (13b), S. Afridi c & b Shakib 0 (1b), Sarfraz (not out) 19 (28b), U. Gul b Mortaza 39 (25b, 5x4, 1x6), S. Ajmal (not out) 8 (3b, 1x4); Extras (lb-2, w-5, nb-1): 8; Total (for eight wkts. in 50 overs): 262.

Power Plays: One (Overs 1-10): 36/0; Bowling (16-20): 37/0; Batting (36-40): 22/3.

Fall of wickets: 1-135 (Jamshed), 2-162 (Younis), 3-169 (Hafeez), 4-175 (Shafiq), 5-192 (Akmal), 6-193 (Afridi), 7-198 (Misbah), 8-251 (Gul).

Bangladesh bowling: Mortaza 10-0-55-1, Shafiul 8-0-49-0, Shakib 10-0-41-2, Shahadat 8-0-53-3, Razzak 10-0-43-1, Mahmudullah 4-0-19-0.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal b Hafeez 64 (89b, 6x4, 1x6), Md. Nazimuddin c Gul b Cheema 30 (33b, 4x4, 1x6), Jahurul Islam b Afridi 23 (31b, 3x4), M. Rahim b Afridi 3 (5b), Shakib b Gul 64 (66b, 4x4), Mahmudullah lbw b Hafeez 0 (1b), Nasir b Gul 47 (49b, 3x4, 1x6), A. Razzak b Ajmal 1 (3b), M. Mortaza b Ajmal 1 (3b), Shafiul Islam lbw b Gul 1 (2b), Shahadat (not out) 0 (7b); Extras (lb-2, w-5): 7; Total (in 48.1 overs): 241.

Power Plays: One (Overs 1-10): 43/0; Bowling (16-20): 22/0; Batting (36-40): 36/0.

Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Nazimuddin), 2-90 (Jahurul), 3-100 (Rahim), 4-135 (Tamim), 5-135 (Mahmudullah), 6-224 (Nasir), 7-228 (Razzak), 8-230 (Mortaza), 9-235 (Shafiul).

Pakistan bowling: Hafeez 10-1-40-2, Gul 9.1-0-58-3, Ajmal 10-0-45-2, Cheema 9-0-47-1, Afridi 10-0-49-2.

Man-of-the-match: Mohd. Hafeez.

Bangladesh Vs Pakistan 2nd Test At Mirpur Day5 Live Score,Cricinfo,Highlights

Pakistan 470 (Taufeeq 130, Misbah 70, Azhar 57, Akmal 53, Shakib 6-82) and 107 for 3 beat Bangladesh338 (Shakib 144, Nafees 97) and 234 (Nasir 79, Mushfiqur 53, Rehman 4-51) by seven wickets

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Pakistan capped off a fruitful year in cricket by completing a clean sweep against Bangladesh in Mirpur on a drama-filled day that showcased the unpredictability of Test cricket.

In the first session, Nasir Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim batted sensibly, not especially worried about the runs which they were collecting, making the draw seem the likeliest result. In the second, a combination of kamikaze batting and smart spin bowling resulted in Bangladesh losing their final five wickets for 22 runs, leaving Pakistan the seemingly straightforward target of 103. It wasn't though, as Pakistan faced a race against the fading light in the final session, and needed some intrepid batting to secure the victory in the gloom.

There was a helping hand from the weather for Bangladesh early on, as the usual morning fog delayed the start by an hour and a half. Bangladesh's batting has posted 250 in both innings of a Test only four times in the past seven years, and as play began the worry was the home side would fold on a fifth-day track, particularly against Pakistan's versatile spin attack.

Those fears were quelled in the morning as Nasir went on to his maiden half-century while Mushfiqur made his second important contribution with the bat as the pair put on a century stand. After lunch, though, Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal bamboozled the lower order to revive fading Pakistan hopes of a victory.

It was Rehman who did the major damage after the interval. Nasir was hoodwinked by a straighter delivery that beat the bat and crashed into the stumps to end the partnership at 117. Bangladesh still had plenty of reasons to hope: the lead was already 80, Mushfiqur was set and nearing his half-century, the new batsman Elias Sunny had a first-class high score of 176, and the light usually fades well before the scheduled close of play.

Those hopes pretty much evaporated after a wild stroke from Mushfiqur, who charged out and looked to send a Rehman delivery out of the ground, only managing to top edge it towards mid-off. How Mushfiqur can lecture his team-mates about batting responsibly after this shot remains to be seen.

Bangladesh's slide continued thanks to a moment of magic from Younis Khan at slip, which seemed even more spectacular given the number of simple chances that have been put down in the match. It extended Shahadat Hossain's forgettable Test as he attempted a reckless swipe across the line, getting a thick edge which was seemingly flying well wide of first slip. Younis, though, threw himself to his right goalkeeper-style to snaffle it one-handed. Saeed Ajmal then captured the final two victims to take his tally for the year to 50.

In contrast to the helter-skelter batting after lunch, Nasir and Mushfiqur had been level-headed in seeing off the bowling in the morning. Chances fell short, flew wide and soared over slip but Pakistan were unable to make the breakthrough, as both batsmen also played some powerful shots behind point. In the fourth over of the day, Nasir edged an attempted drive just past second slip, but that didn't stop him from a vigorous upper cut over gully for four off the next delivery.

Once the fast bowlers were seen off, Ajmal and Rehman dried up the runs with an accurate spell of bowling. A five-over stretch that yielded only one run was finally snapped by the inevitable big stroke, but Nasir managed to swat it wide of the diving midwicket fielder to pick up a boundary.

Both Nasir and Mushfiqur showed a defensive technique that was mostly watertight, and Pakistan had to turn to their secondary spinners, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali. A whip to midwicket for four off Ali brought up the hundred stand five minutes before lunch, and Bangladesh were looking forward to escaping with a draw before a depressingly familiar collapse followed.

In this Test, Shakib Al Hasan already had the highest score and the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi against Pakistan, but he could still have made his most important contribution during the chase. It was getting murky early in the afternoon, and the floodlights were on as early as 3pm - a series of tight overs could have been enough to conjure a face-saving draw. He bowled through the innings but it was a task too tough even for him.

Pakistan had a stretch of 24 dot balls early on, and Taufeeq Umar was dismissed cheaply, but Mohammad Hafeez then took over, expertly pulling the barrage of short balls from the medium-pacers. With Azhar Ali working the singles, Pakistan galloped towards victory even as the light faded. Both Hafeez and Azhar were dismissed with the win in sight, but that only brought in the senior batsmen, Man-of-the-Series Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who stylishly completed the victory with a six over long-off.

Bangladesh vs Pakistan 2nd Test at Mirpur Day4 Cricinfo,Highlights

Bangladesh 338 and 114 for 5 trail Pakistan 470 (Taufeeq 130, Misbah 70, Azhar 57, Akmal 53, Shakib 6-82) by 18 runs

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Shakib Al Hasan became the first Bangladesh player to score a hundred and take a five-for in the same Test, but that wasn't enough to stop Pakistan from taking charge of the second Test in Mirpur. Shakib's importance to the outcome of the match was highlighted by Pakistan's jubilant reaction to his dismissal late in the day - in the exuberance of the celebration, Younis Khan was pushed over by one of his team-mates.

Pakistan's batsmen made unrelenting progress in the first half of the day - Adnan Akmal reached his maiden Test half-century and Misbah-ul-Haq completed his seventh Test fifty of the year to stretch the first-innings lead to a healthy 132. In contrast, the Bangladesh batting's perennial struggle to put up strong performances in both innings of a Test continued, and they slid to 114 for 5 by close.

It was a typical beginning to the innings. Tamim Iqbal started as though it was a Twenty20, cracking five boundaries in his 21 before falling in the final over before tea. It was a dodgy decision as he was ruled out after the ball ricocheted off his helmet to slip. He stood around making his displeasure clear, and pointing to the helmet to indicate where the ball hit him, actions which are likely to earn him a meeting with the match referee.

To make it worse, off the next ball, Umar Gul removed Shahriar Nafees lbw for a golden duck to spark thoughts of a familiar top order collapse. Like the light in Mirpur, Bangladesh's chances also began to fade early.

Gul got the new ball to jag around, and though he couldn't complete the hat-trick after tea, he thoroughly examined the batsmen's technique outside off. Aizaz Cheema wasn't as incisive early on, but returned to take two big wickets - Mahmudullah and Shakib. Both dismissals were due to a long-standing problem with the Bangladesh batting - poor shot selection. Mahmudullah looked to flatbat a delivery that was well outside off, top edging it to deep point and Shakib steered a catch to backward point.

One of the other reasons for the home side's troubles at the Test level is the lack of quality medium-pacers, and they were unimpressive again on the fourth morning. That prompted Mushfiqur Rahim to give marathon spells to the left-arm spin pair of Elias Sunny and Shakib. Sunny bowled through the entire morning session, while Shakib had sent down a 23-over spell by the time Pakistan's innings ended.

Comfortably placed at 292 for 3 overnight, Pakistan were expected to be more adventurous on the fourth morning to set up a declaration, but the dismissal of Younis in the second over of the day led to a more measured approach. Sunny struck in his first over, getting the ball to jump and turn, and Younis nicked it to the wicketkeeper as he looked to defend.

Neither Misbah nor Asad Shafiq are known for an aggressive brand of batting, and there was plenty of caution in their partnership early on. Only three runs were scored in the first seven overs of the day, before Misbah broke free with a couple of boundaries in a Nazmul Hossain over. Shafiq also got going with consecutive fours off Shahadat Hossain, but once Sunny and Shakib started to bowl in tandem, the run flow subsided again.

Misbah, to his credit, attempted to push the tempo with an array of sweeps - delicate paddles from outside off, reverse-sweeps and powerful conventional ones to try and throw the spinners' off their line and length. The partnership swelled past 50, before Shakib finally had reward for his tight bowling - Misbah falling to the sweep, top-edging to slip.

The Bangladesh fielding was again below par: Robiul Islam shelled a simple chance at mid-on, Mahmudullah dropped another at slip and there was another let down at midwicket by Sunny.

Bangladesh's spirits were lifted when Shafiq was given a tight lbw appeal, but Abdur Rehman and Akmal played a series of strokes to take the lead close to 100. Rehman then fell to a catch at slip, and the rest of the tail was mopped up by Shakib.

As if a century to rescue the team from 43 for 4, and then scooping up six wickets wasn't enough, Shakib was expected to prop Bangladesh up with the bat in the second innings as well. He wasn't able to, leaving Bangladesh needing something of a miracle to save the Test on a track where Pakistan's potent spin attack was getting plenty of help.

Bangladesh Vs Pakistan 2nd Test At Mirpur Day4 Live Score

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Bangladesh Vs Pakistan 2nd Test At Mirpur Day3 Live Score,Cricinfo,Highlights

Pakistan 292 for 3 (Taufeeq 130, Azhar 57) trail Bangladesh 338 by 46 runs 

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Sandwiched between the familiar Mirpur problems of morning fog and fading light in the evening, Pakistan gave another demonstration of the batting solidity that has characterised their cricket in 2011. Taufeeq Umar added another century to his already rich haul this year, and aided by several middle-order contributions and butter-fingers from Bangladesh, cut the deficit to 46 runs.

The flamboyance of old may be missing - Pakistan rarely looked interested in pushing the tempo for much of the day - but the safety-first batting has served them well this year. Bangladesh's attack was mostly pedestrian, and it was only with the second new ball that there was a sustained period of hostility.

In the curtailed morning session, Taufeeq and Azhar Ali blunted the bowling as they stretched the partnership beyond 100. The only real chance of a wicket before lunch was when Taufeeq missed a delivery from Shakib Al Hasan that spun down the leg side in the 36th over. Mushfiqur Rahim collected the ball, and was so certain of the caught-behind that he vociferously appealed without bothering to try stumping Taufeeq who had advanced down the track.

The day began with a 11-run over from Shahadat Hossain, but the scoring-rate returned to staid Test match levels after that. It was risk-free batting from both Taufeeq and Azhar, who were supremely patient at most times, but cashed in on the regular poor delivery. Taufeeq was very good on the cut, scoring heavily around point, while many of Azhar's boundaries were off drives, including a classic past extra cover that took him to fifty.

The track was providing little assistance to the quicks, and to make matters worse, in the first over after lunch, Nazimuddin shelled a sitter at gully to reprieve Taufeeq. Luckily for Bangladesh, Shakib got one to spin sharply away, taking Azhar's outside edge on the way to the keeper. Azhar, at ease against pace, wasn't at his most assured against spin, and his dismissal for 57 meant he has only one century despite 12 fifties.

Taufeeq was unperturbed, continuing to grind the bowling even as Younis Khan took his time to settle in. The cut continued to bring in plenty of runs, there was a risky paddle for four off Shakib and an authoritative swat to midwicket off Mahmudullah. The century came up with a slap behind point for four, after which Taufeeq unleashed a bunch of off-side boundaries.

Bangladesh's spirits were sapped further when both Younis and Taufeeq were given lives in the first two overs after tea - Younis put down at deep midwicket by Shahadat Hossain, while Taufeeq offered a tough bat-pad chance that Shahriar Nafees couldn't latch on at short leg.

They didn't have to wait too long for the second new ball, though, and that transformed the attack. Nazmul Hossain was outstanding as he got the ball to seam around, and thoroughly tested Younis' technique outside off before getting Taufeeq to nick to slip.

The batting hadn't exactly been in top gear all innings, and more enterprise was necessary if Pakistan were to aim for a victory. Even as the light faded, Younis and Misbah didn't go into a shell, picking off the boundaries as the quick bowlers overdosed on the short ball. Their partnership raised 47 at a decidedly brisk 3.76 before play was called off with Pakistan closing in on 300. They will need more quick runs on Tuesday if they are to set up a big total that could put the traditionally fragile Bangladesh batting under pressure for the remainder of the Test.

Bangladesh Vs Pakistan 2nd Test At Mirpur Day2 Live Score,Cricinfo,Highlights

Pakistan 87 for 1 (Taufeeq 44*, Azhar 26*) trail Bangladesh 338 (Shakib 144, Shahriar 97) by 251 runs 

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Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim frustrated Pakistan in a truncated morning session, but the visitors levelled the game over the next two sessions. Bangladesh's fragility was once again on display after lunch, as the final five wickets went down for 33 runs after which Pakistan's top order responded strongly.

Until the Bangladesh lower-order collapse in the afternoon, the only impediment to the home side's progress had been the fog in Mirpur, which wiped out an hour's play. Shakib and Mushfiqur crafted a slow-and-steady stand once it cleared, to give the small but vocal crowd something to cheer about on a chilly morning.

Shakib made his highest first-class score and was headed for Bangladesh's record individual Test effort when he was run-out. Mushfiqur took a few quick steps before stopping and sending Shakib back, but a direct hit from Taufeeq Umar, running in from mid-on, was enough to snap the partnership at 82. Shakib walked off, after several glares at his captain over the poor calling.

Whether that had an effect on Mushfiqur is hard to tell, but the very next delivery, he gloved a catch down the leg side to the wicketkeeper which left two new lower-order batsmen at the crease, and Pakistan sniffing a quick end to the innings. Elias Sunny and Shahadat Hossain rode their luck in a brief, entertaining stand - Sunny survived as an Umar Gul delivery kissed off stump without disturbing the bails, and Shahadat was put down by Abdur Rehman at deep midwicket.

The innings ended in a hurry, though, as Saeed Ajmal's doosra proved too much for the tailenders, and a run-out curtailed Nazmul Hossain's first Test knock in seven years to a single delivery.

In contrast, Pakistan had little to celebrate in the morning. There was little movement on offer for the quick bowlers and even with the second new ball Gul and Aizaz Cheema couldn't get any major deviation. With the old ball, Pakistan's dangerous spin pair of Ajmal and Rehman got some turn, but were blunted by Shakib and Mushfiqur.

Shakib hit only one boundary in the first session, and survived several lbw calls and an outside edge that landed short of slip. While he was circumspect, Mushfiqur was more enterprising. There was a powerful swipe over midwicket for six off Ajmal, and he picked up several boundaries with his favoured cut shot. They took Bangladesh past 300 in Tests for only the second time since May 2010, but their back-to-back dismissals restricted the innings to a far lower score than expected.

There was something to buoy the home side as they went in for tea. They removed Mohammad Hafeez, who has had a great run in 2011, including a big century in the previous Test. He had begun ominously, swatting consecutive boundaries in the third over, but nicked Nazmul's first ball in Tests in seven years, to be dismissed for 14.

Bangladesh's bowlers gifted easy runs till late in the final session, when the spinners Shakib and Mahmudullah kept the batsmen in check. There was an early close call for Azhar Ali, who unwisely shouldered arms to a delivery that nipped in from Robiul, narrowly avoiding a supremely confident shout for lbw. He wasn't at his most assured against the spinners either, beaten several times by the big turn Shakib was extracting, and once edging just wide of the slips.

Taufeeq Umar was more confident, initially capitalising on the loose deliveries on offer. There were plenty of cuts and drives as he picked up eight boundaries on his way to 44, before bad light expectedly ended play an hour early. There's still plenty of work to do for the Pakistan batting but with their increasingly reliable middle order, they will fancy their chances of overhauling Bangladesh's total.

Bangladesh Vs Pakistan 2nd Test At Mirpur Day1 Live Score,Cricinfo,Highlights

Bangladesh 234 for 5 (Shakib 108*, Nafees 97, Cheema 3-52) v Pakistan

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Shakib Al Hasan and Shahriar Nafees showed that it was possible for Bangladesh batsmen to play shots without throwing their wickets away, with the country's first century partnership in Tests since June 2010. The duo batted for almost two sessions to rescue Bangladesh from what had looked set to be yet another low total, after Aizaz Cheema had reduced them to 43 for 4 in helpful morning conditions.

At no stage in their partnership were Shakib and Nafees subdued, and without doing anything reckless, put on 180 at more than three-and-a-half runs an over. Though the Mirpur track eased out completely after seaming around in the first session, Bangladesh had caved in for 135 on a flat Chittagong surface a week ago. With their Test status being called into question by some, they had everything to prove. Shakib and Nafees showed that there was more to Bangladesh cricket than a large and fanatical fan following.

Fog and dew had delayed the start by 75 minutes but also encouraged Misbah-ul-Haq to ask the under-pressure Bangladesh batsmen to face his fast bowlers - although Pakistan went in with only two of them as against Bangladesh's three. Cheema's morning spell read 8-2-18-3 but Shakib ensured he was kept out of the attack for most of the second session, hitting him for three fours in four deliveries soon after lunch.

Shakib's aggression forced Misbah to turn to his spinners but there was not much help for them from a pitch that had now revealed itself to be a typical flat first-day subcontinent pitch. Shakib continued to play positively against Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, working them on the leg side, and driving and punching through extra cover. A back-foot punch off Ajmal brought up his 50 and he stepped out next ball to caress a flighted delivery to the extra-cover boundary to bring up the century partnership - Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes were involved in the previous one in Manchester, against England in June 2010.

Nafees had earlier showed his team-mates the way to play the fast bowlers on a surface that was aiding seam in the morning. Wary of edging angled deliveries to the four slips, Nafees aimed to play straight as much as he could. Though that meant letting go of a few scoring opportunities, he went hard when he was given width and pulled with panache. Nafees hammered Umar Gul's first delivery of his second spell through extra cover to reach his third 50 after his return to the Test side in August.

Going against the propensity of Bangladesh batsmen to implode after reaching half-centuries, both batsmen continued in the same vein after getting to their landmarks. With the light fading in the Dhaka winter, Shakib cut Gul for two boundaries in an over to move to 99 and brought the appreciative crowd to its feet with a characteristic chop through point to reach his second Test hundred. Nafees clattered Ajmal through extra cover to move to 97 but Gul sent down an accurate bouncer in his next over to have him gloving it to the wicketkeeper. By then, though, Bangladesh had restored their pride, and Pakistan had looked clueless for the first time in three weeks on this tour.

Things had looked almost predictably bleak for Bangladesh in the morning after Cheema, especially, and Gul were relentless in exposing the hosts' frailties. Getting sharp seam movement, Cheema had Nazimuddin padding up in his first over, though everyone except umpire Shavir Tarapore thought that the bounce would have taken the ball over the stumps.

Gul did not get the kind of movement off the pitch that Cheema managed, and in the absence of swing, he had to rely on his accuracy and the element of surprise. After Tamim Iqbal had tentatively survived against several pitched-up deliveries, Gul dug in the bouncer in his fourth over. Tamim did what Tamim does, and the top-edged hook was taken safely by Cheema at fine leg.

With Bangladesh bringing in a fast bowler at the expense of Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah was given a promotion in the batting order to No. 4. It didn't work, as Cheema rattled Mahmudullah's stumps first ball with one that nipped in between bat and pad.

Nasir Hossain, who had batted as low as No. 8 in the first innings in Chittagong, was sent in at 21 for 3. He looked thoroughly uncomfortable initially, stabbing and getting beaten as the ball jagged around. Another prod at an away-going Cheema delivery produced the edge and ended in the gloves of Adnan Akmal to make it 43 for 4. Another Test involving Bangladesh could have been decided by the first innings, but for Nafees and Shakib.