Pakistan reassert their dominance in Dhaka

Cricket365
December 19, 2011

Taufeeq Umar's third Test century of the year ensured that Pakistan dominated the third day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Umar's steady 130 provided the backbone of the Pakistan innings, which paused on 292 for three at the close of a day on which fog permitted just 69 overs.

That left the tourists just 46 runs short of Bangladesh's first innings total, but the slow pace at which they scored their runs during the middle session lessened their chances of a clean sweep in the series.

Although he picked up his scoring rate towards the end of the day, Younis Khan was the main culprit and he finished the day unbeaten on 48 from 118 balls.

He was accompanied to stumps by captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who was 26 not out.

Play was held up for an hour and 45 minutes at the start of day three due to heavy fog, but when it finally got underway Umar and Azhar Ali both progressed to half-centuries.

Ali was eventually caught behind off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan for a dogged 57, but Umar soldiered on through the second session to go to three figures.

Umar did, however, enjoy some fortune as he was dropped on 66 and 118 in his seventh Test century.

The second new ball eventually did the trick for Bangladesh when Nazmul Hossain found the edge and Shariar Nafees took a smart catch at second slip to send Umar on his way.

However Younis and Misbah put on an unbroken 47-run stand to maintain Pakistan's dominance as they head into the fourth day at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.