DHAKA: Tamim Iqbal hit his maiden test double-century and Imrul Kayes scored third ton on Saturday as the first Test against Pakistan in Khulna looked headed for a draw.

Bangladesh piled up 456 for three after the end of 113.3 overs in reply to Pakistan’s 628 at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium after tea break.

The hosts are leading by 160 runs with seven wickets remaining.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Mahmudullah are at the crease with 35 off 52 balls and 36 off 62 balls respectively.

Bangladesh fans witnessed a set of new records in the Tigers’ second innings.

Tamim Iqbal hit his maiden test double-century, becoming the highest individual scorer after Mushfiqur Rahim. Tamim scored 206 off 278 balls, hitting 17 boundaries and seven over boundaries at a strike rate of 74.10.

Mohammad Hafeez took Tamim’s wickets when Tigers’ scoreboard was at 399 in 98.2 overs.

Before that, Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes made a 312-run opening partnership, breaking a 55-year-old record of highest first wicket-partnership in the third innings of any test match.

Pakistan’s Zulfiqar Babar removed Imrul when Bangladesh scored 312 in 75.5 overs.

England’s Colin Cowdrey and Geoff Pullar cored 290 runs against South Africa at The Oval on August 18, 1960.

The 312-run stand also the highest partnership in the history of Bangladesh test cricket. The previous record was a 267-run partnership in fifth wicket set by Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim against Sri Lanka at Galle on March 8 2013.

Rains delayed the play awhile. The match resumed after lunchtime.

On Friday, the seventh test ton of Tamim Iqbal and third ton of Imrul Kayes helped Bangladesh reply Pakistan strongly.

Earlier in the day, a haul of six wickets by Tajul Islam helped Bangladesh fold Pakistan for 628 in the visitors’ first innings in the fourth day of the test.

The visitors played 168.4 over at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium and were leading by 296 runs in their 1st innings.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan resumed batting with 537 for five wickets on day-4. Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed had resumed batting.

Mohammad Shahid took Sarfraz Ahmed (82 off 88 balls), followed by Taijul Islam’s removing Wahab Riaz’s wicket. Wahab Riaz got duck.

Shakib Al Hasan made a timely breakthrough, removing Asad Shafiq (83 off 158 balls).

Among Bangladesh bowlers, Taijul Islam (46.4-4-163-6) was most successful. Shuvagata Hom took two wickets while Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Shahid pocketed one wicket each.
 
Earlier, a double-ton by Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez helped Pakistan reply the Bangladesh first innings strongly.

Mohammad Hafeez hit maiden double-century in his test career, scoring 224 runs off 332 balls. He built his innings with 23 boundaries and three over boundaries at a strike rate of 67.46.

Azhar Ali, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Sami Aslam scored 83, 59, 33 and 20 runs respectively.

Bangladesh, in their first innings, scored 332 runs all out.

Mominul Haque was the top scorer with 80-run while Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan took 51, 49, 33, 32, 25 and 25 runs respectively.

Among the Pakistan bowlers, Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah were most successful by bagging three wickets each, while Hafeez and Babar got two wickets each.

On Tuesday (April 28), Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and opted to bat first in the match that kicked off at 10:00am local time.

** Tamim hits maiden double ton

BDST: 1505/1528 HRS, MAY 02, 2015
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