Six-wicket Younis puts Pak in command

Half centuries by openers Taufiq Umar and Shadab Kabir put Pakistan in command after captain Waqar Younis stunned Bangladesh with a six-wicket haul on the first day of the first Test on Wednesday.

Pakistan were 126 for three at close in reply to Bangladesh's 160 all out.

Kabir hit a sparkling 55 with 10 fours off 60 balls before being bowled by left-arm spinner Enamul Hoque on 23rd over.

Hoque in his next over captured the wicket of Younis Khan for a duck to give some inspiration to the home side.

Hoque's two wickets cost him 31 runs off 12 overs with four maidens.

Umar was trapped leg before wicket by medium pacer Mohammad Sharif after hammering 53 with nine fours. Pakistan's first two wickets fell at the score of 100 and the third on 116.

DEVASTATING BOWLING

Skipper Waqar Younis shone again with his devastating bowling when he dashed Bangladesh's hopes for prolonging their innings beyond the first day.

Younis's success came in his second spell as he grabbed six wickets conceding only 21 runs with overall figures of 6-55.

He said: "The haul of six wickets by any bowler is a good achievement.

"I'm really impressed by the overall performance of the team. The players are on the right track."

The hosts were 103 for three wickets at the lunch but lost the last seven wickets, six of them fell to Waqar, by 15 minutes before the tea.

Wasim Akram was given a 24-hour rest after he left the field with a hamstring problem, coach Mudassar Nazar said.

Earlier, Abdur Razzaq claimed the wickets of both Bangladesh openers as the hosts reached 103 for three at lunch.

Razzaq, who came into the attack to complete Wasim's third over after the paceman left the pitch, had Mehrab Hossain caught at short-leg for 11 with the score on 30.

He struck again just before the first drinks break when he trapped Al-Sahariar leg before for 18 with a slower delivery.

Habibul Bashar and Mohammad Ashraful then took the score from 45 for two to 77 before Ashraful, the youngest centurion in Test cricket, lifted a catch to Yousuf Youhana at cover off Danish Kaneria for 27.

Aminul Islam came in to join Bashar but could score 25 runs before being trapped LBW by Kenaria.

Mail Cricket Editor