Bangladesh strengthen position after bowling out Pakistan for 252

A collective bowling performance and a good partnership between Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul Haque put Bangladesh in a strong position in the second Test. After Pakistan were bowled out for 232, Bangladesh were 110 for 3 in their second innings, going into Stumps on Day 2 with a lead of 156 runs.

Starting the day at 21 for 0, the Pakistan openers added a solitary run to their partnership as Taskin Ahmed struck in the second over of the day, finding the outside edge of Abdullah Fazal's bat. Taskin also sent Azan Awais back in his next over, finding the inside edge this time, with the ball lobbing up off the pads and into the hands of Mominul. Babar Azam and Shan Masood tried to steady the innings but the Pakistan captain fell after a 38-run stand, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz getting the batter caught at short cover. Mehidy also cut short Saud Shakeel's outing, dismissing him off an attempted sweep as Pakistan slipped to 79 for 4.

Babar and Salman Agha led Pakistan through to Lunch without further damage, with the visitors moving to 96 for 4. Babar went on the offensive at the start of the second session, striking two fours off Taijul Islam and one off Shoriful Islam to bring up a 63-ball fifty. Agha also found the boundaries as the fifth wicket pair extended their stand past 50 before Nahid Rana had Babar out chipping a catch to mid on. Taijul then got the wicket of Agha – who top-edged a sweep. Hasan Ali found some boundaries but Mohammad Rizwan became Taijul's second scalp as Pakistan slipped to 174 for 7.

Hasan added another four to his tally before Taijul ended his stay for his third wicket. Khurram Shahzad and Sajid Khan then began a counter-attack to take Pakistan to 206 for 8 at Tea. Nahid struck soon after the break to dismiss Shahzad but Sajid added some crucial runs, hitting a hat-trick of sixes off Taijul, followed by a four off Nahid. The express pacer had the last laugh though, having Sajid caught at third man as Bangladesh picked up a 46-run lead.

Mahmudul and Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck a few boundaries to help Bangladesh off to a positive start in their second innings. But Tanzid's stay was short-lived as he fell to Shahzad, getting a leading edge to gully. Mahmudul, however, continued positively and found regular boundaries to extend Bangladesh's lead past 100 inside the first 10 overs.

Mominul supported Mahmudul in a brisk 76-run stand as the opener registered a 58-ball half-century to extend Bangladesh's lead. The stand, however, came to an end as an attempted heave resulted in a catch, and a wicket to Mohammad Abbas. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul took the lead past 150 but the No.3 batter fell on what was the last ball of the day as he edged a Shahzad delivery behind to depart for 30.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 278 & 110/3 (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 52, Mominul Haque 30; Khurram Shahzad 2-19) lead Pakistan 232 (Babar Azam 68; Nahid Rana 3-60, Taijul Islam 3-67) by 156 runs.