Mominul leads B’desh to good start on Day 1

Mominul Haque scored 80 as Bangladesh made an impressive start in the first Test against Pakistan on Tuesday, reaching 236 for four by stumps on the opening day.

The talented 23-year-old left-hander batted fluently to cross 50 for the 12th time in his first 13 Tests before being trapped leg-before by Zulfiqar Babar off the last ball of the day. Opener Imrul Kayes made 51, Mohammad Mahmudullah scored 49 and Shakib Al Hasan was unbeaten on 19 after the hosts elected to take first strike in good batting conditions at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.

Mominul has scored a half-century or more in his last 10 Tests. Only four batsmen, Viv Richards of the West Indies, South Africa’s AB de Villiers and the Indian duo of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, have scored more 50s in consecutive Test matches.

Mominul put on 40 for the second wicket with Imrul, 95 for the third with Mahmudullah and 49 for the fourth with Shakib as Pakistan’s bowlers toiled for success on an unhelpful pitch. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, off-break bowler Mohammad Hafeez, left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar claimed a wicket each, but Pakistan were let down by shoddy catching and fielding.

BRIEFSCORES B’DESH 236 for 4 (Mominul 80, Imrul 51, Mahmudullah 49) vs Pakistan.