Shoaib rattles Bangla after Omar ton

Omar batted for eight-and-a-quarter hours and faced 357 balls, hitting 17 fours and putting on 130 for the third wicket with Mohammad Ashraful.

Omar paid tribute to Shoaib.

“I think he produced a wonderful spell of reverse swing and extreme pace after lunch,” he said. “Shoaib showed his class today. He bowled very fast, even on this pitch and in hot conditions. “He was reverse swinging the ball a lot.” The conditions were so difficult that umpire Russell Tiffin of Zimbabwe was forced off with stomach cramps and exhaustion.

Ashraful was Shoaib’s second victim, edging a hook behind for 77 one over after Omar’s departure.

The strike bowler, who felt ill and dizzy on the opening day, wrapped up the innings by dismissing Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud, his 97th victim in his 27th Test. Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez and local boy Yasir Hameed, who scored 170 and 105 in the first test at Karachi, to leave the match well poised.

Brief scores: Bangladesh (1st Innings) 361 (Javed Omar 119, Habibul Bashar 97; Shoaib Akhtar 6/50). Pakistan (1st Innings) 134/2 (Taufeeq Umar 60 no).