Bashar saves Bangla again

Bangladesh, inspired again by in-form Habibul Bashar, frustrated Pakistan on the first day of the third and final Test on Wednesday, reaching 248 for six at the close.

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Bangladesh 1st innings: Hannan Sarkar c Rashid Latif b Umar Gul 13, Javed Omar c Younis Khan b Umar Gul 38, Habibul Bashar c Rashid Latif b Yasir Ali 72, Mohammad Ashraful lbw Saqlain Mushtaq 12, Rajin Saleh run out Yasir Ali 49, Alok Kapali b Umar Gul 11, Khaled Mashud not out 29, Khaled Mahmud not out 1; Extras lb-7, b-4, nb-12: 23 Total For 6 wkts, in 90 overs: 248 Fall of wkts: 1-28, 2-102, 3-136, 4-166, 5-179, 6-241 Bowling: Shabbir Ahmed 21-3-55-0, Umar Gul 27-6-71-3, Yasir Ali 14-4-43-1, Saqlain Mushtaq 25-5-61-1, Mohammad Hafeez 3-1-7-0.

Riding on another fine innings from Bashar 72 and a sixth wicket stand of 62 between Rajin Saleh 49 and Khaled Mashud 29 not out, underdogs Bangladesh gave a good account of themselves. The partnership came to an unlucky end when a drive by Mashud ricocheted off Test debutant Yasir Ali8217;s foot and struck the stumps at the non-striker8217;s end leaving Saleh just short of the crease and one run away from a well deserved 50.

Bangladesh are playing for pride as Pakistan seek a clean sweep after winning the first two Tests in Karachi and Peshawar.

As in the first two matches, Bangladesh won the toss and batted first, making a respectable start. Reuters