Pakistan equal world record

Pakistan equalled the record of most centuries in a Test innings as they brought Bangladesh to their knees on the second day of the Asian championship opener on Thursday.

The novice visitors, facing an innings thrashing, closed their second innings on 55-3 needing another 357 runs to avoid humiliation.

Pakistan declared on 546-3 to take a huge 412-run lead as debutant Taufiq Umer, Inzamam-ul Haq, Abdur Razzaq and Yousuf Youhana made triple figures.

With Saeed Anwar's century on the first day, Pakistan equalled Australia's haul of five centuries in an innings against the West Indies at Kingston in 1954-55.

Bangladesh were skittled out for a paltry 134 in their first innings and looked like they would be lucky to better it in their second.

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis sent back opener Javed Omer in the fourth over, then forced an edge off Mehrab Hossain to Rashid Latif behind the wicket.

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who took 6-42 in the first innings, dismissed Aminul Islam for 18 to leave Bangladesh at 52-3.

Earlier in the day the agony piled on for the visitors as Pakistan's batsmen joined the run feast against a hapless attack which had no clue how to respond.

Allrounder Razzaq reached his second hundred off just 92 balls in 112 minutes. It was Pakistan's second fastest century both in terms of balls and minutes.

Former captain Majid Khan holds the record of fastest Test century for Pakistan, needing just 74 balls in Karachi against New Zealand in 1976-77.

Resuming at 219-2, Pakistan added 105 runs in the first session as Haq and Umer grabbed the Bangladeshi bowlers by the throat.

Umer became the eighth Pakistani batsman to score a hundred in his first Test when he took a couple off left-arm spinner Enamul Haque. His knock took 221 minutes and was studded with 14 fours.

He was out with an edge to wicketkeeper Khaled Masud off pace bowler Hasibul Hossain for 104.

"I am delighted that I have joined an elite band of players who made debut centuries and I will work hard to maintain this so I don't become a one-day wonder only," said Umer, 20.

Haq mauled the Bangladeshi attack with ferocious drives and cuts to reach his 15th hundred in his 75th Test.

But after 202 minutes and 162 balls, the heat of his hometown in central Punjab forced the beefy right-hander off the field due to dehydration with his score on 105.

"Scoring a hundred in your home town is pleasing because I have been waiting for a Test to be staged here throughout my career," the vice-captain said at the brand-new stadium.

Razzaq and Youhana then took control and thrashed the tourists' attack with thumping drives and lofted pulls.

Razzaq completed his fifty off just 49 balls with seven boundaries and two towering sixes.

Mail Cricket Editor