Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a composed century to guide Bangladesh into a strong position before Pakistan claimed a late breakthrough on the opening day of the first Test in Mirpur.
The Bangladesh captain made 101, registering his ninth Test century and his first against Pakistan. He shared a 170-run partnership with Mominul Haque as the hosts took control during a long post-lunch session on a pitch that offered little assistance to either seamers or spinners.
Pakistan finally broke through in the 53rd over when Mohammad Abbas dismissed Shanto leg-before immediately after he reached his hundred. The right-arm pacer delivered a good-length ball that moved back sharply and struck the batter on the front pad as he attempted to play across the line.
Although the on-field umpire rejected the appeal, Pakistan captain Shan Masood reviewed the decision successfully. Ball-tracking later confirmed the delivery would have hit the off stump.
Shanto had reached the milestone in confident fashion one ball earlier, driving a half-volley from Abbas through the covers for four. His 130-ball innings contained 12 boundaries and two sixes and continued an impressive run of form in which he has regularly converted half-centuries into hundreds.
The late wicket gave Pakistan some encouragement after a difficult session in the field. Bangladesh, however, remained in a solid position with Mominul unbeaten after bringing up his 26th Test half-century.
The innings marked Shanto’s first major Test score against Pakistan, an opposition he had previously struggled against, often failing to reach double figures. Bangladesh will now look to Mominul and the remaining batters to build a substantial first-innings total.
