Debutant Awais leads Pakistan fightback after BD post 413

Debutant Azan Awais led Pakistan's strong reply after Bangladesh were bowled out for 413 on the second day of the opening Test in Dhaka on Saturday.

The visitors reached 179 for one at stumps at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, trailing Bangladesh by 234 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Awais remained unbeaten on 85 in an assured innings on debut, sharing an unbroken partnership with fellow newcomer Abdullah Fazal, who was not out on 37.

Bangladesh had resumed the day on 301 for four with Litton Das unbeaten on 8 alongside Mushfiqur Rahim on 48.

But Pakistan struck regularly in the morning session through veteran pacer Mohammad Abbas, who finished with five wickets for 92 runs after exploiting disciplined lines and subtle movement.

Mushfiqur completed his half-century early in the day before falling for 71 after edging Shaheen Shah Afridi behind. Litton Das added 33 but Bangladesh lost wickets in clusters after appearing set for a bigger total.

Abbas removed Litton, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam in quick succession to halt Bangladesh's momentum, while Shaheen and Khurram Shahzad provided support at the other end.

Bangladesh eventually added 112 runs to their overnight score before being dismissed shortly after lunch.

In reply, Pakistan's openers negotiated the new ball confidently on a surface that appeared much easier for batting than on the opening morning.

Imam-ul-Haq and Awais put together a steady opening partnership before Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke through by trapping Imam for 45.

Pakistan, however, maintained control for the remainder of the day as Awais batted with maturity beyond his years, mixing patience with fluent strokeplay against Bangladesh's spin-heavy attack.

The right-hander reached his fifty with a boundary in the final session and continued to frustrate the home bowlers alongside Abdullah, who also looked composed in his first Test appearance.

Bangladesh's bowlers struggled to generate consistent turn or reverse swing on a largely placid pitch, raising concerns for the hosts after dominating much of the opening day through Shanto's century and Mominul Haque's 91.

Pakistan will look to erase the deficit quickly on the third day and put pressure back on Bangladesh in the first match of the two-Test series.