Same Old Problems for Bangladesh as Mohammad Hafeez Gives Pakistan Control

After whitewashing Pakistan in the recent one-day series, the first Test in Khulna was supposed to be Bangladesh's coming-out party in the five-day game. After a promising Day 1 performance, old habits resurfaced during the second as Mohammad Hafeez gave Pakistan control.

On paper, the Bangladeshi top six of Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim is as strong as it has ever been. Against Pakistan, they all reached at least 25, but none of them could record a better score than 80.

On flat pitches, Bangladesh can't afford to gift their wickets away. Shakib al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur did just that, chucking away good starts.

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Mohammad Hafeez remains unbeaten on 137* as Pakistan ended Day 2 227/1 in reply to Bangladesh's 332 #BANvPAK pic.twitter.com/JlfGFX5HvD/s/3WLg

— RabnawaZ (@INDUS_SPORTS) April 29, 2015"

Sides with winning mentalities often conjure up runs from unlikely places lower down the batting order. Just ask any England supporter his or her thoughts on Ian Healy and Brad Haddin, who have rescued countless seemingly lost causes for the Australians.

Bangladesh subsided from a promising 305 for four to a precarious 332 all out. That nine of the 11 batsmen reached double figures suggests a real missed opportunity. The final total looked about 100 under par, and Hafeez made them pay.

Hafeez endured a torrid start to his trip to Bangladesh. In his four innings before the first Test, he managed just 34 runs.

The 34-year-old has been in good touch in the five-day arena, though, and he dashed his way to his third Test century in as many games. This latest effort puts him in elite company, as Zaheer Abbas, Mudassar Nazar, Shoaib Mohammad, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan are the only other Pakistanis to manage it.

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100s in consecutive Tests (Pak): MYousuf 5. Zaheer Abbas, Mudassar Nazar, Shoaib Mohammad, MYousuf, Younis Khan & MHafeez each 3. #BANvPAK

— Fast Cricket #IPL (@Fast_Cricket) April 29, 2015"

Hafeez was helped by some wayward Bangladesh bowling. When Mushfiqur needed to put on the brakes, his bowlers lacked the necessary discipline. Too many deliveries were short and wide. Too much was offered at leg stump, and Hafeez duly helped himself. On a pitch offering little assistance, it was an afternoon for the Bangladeshi bowlers to try to bore out the opposition.

In Bangladesh's first innings, only one batsman who passed 20 scored his runs at a strike rate of better than 50. That Hafeez managed to stroke his way to 137 not out scoring at 76.53 runs per 100 balls gives an indication of how the bowlers lost control.

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Mohammad Hafeez last 5 Test innings :- 137* 24 197 101* 96 A total of 555 runs at an average of 185. #Cricket #BanvPak

— Inzamam Ul haq (@InzamamLive) April 29, 2015"

The home side didn't help themselves in the field, either. They shelled Azhar Ali twice. He went on to close the day on an unbeaten 65.

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If these two sides could catch, would be a 3-day Test #BanvPak

— Rossco (@Slipross) April 29, 2015"

So what went wrong for Bangladesh on Day 2? Did the pressure of favouritism prove too much? Or was this disappointing effort just a reality check on expectations that were getting a little out of hand? We'll find out over the next few days.

Pakistan start Day 3 on 227 for one, 105 behind the hosts. They hold the upper hand after an excellent second day. A couple of early wickets on Thursday morning, and the great Bangladeshi revival could be back on.

Stats courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo.