Bangladesh Batsmen Wilt Under Pakistan Pressure to Fall Well Behind

At the start of the second day of the second Test against Pakistan, hosts Bangladesh needed to stay strong even in the face of lengthening odds against them avoiding defeat.

The Bangladeshis were already down to 10 players having lost seamer Shahadat Hossain to injury just two balls in, while their visitors had 323 for three on the scoreboard and plenty of time to bat.

However, by the end of the day, it became clear that the home side were unable to stay competitive, as they were 107 for five themselves with the bat after Pakistan declared at 557 for eight.

It was surely a daunting total to be faced with after Azhar Ali hit 226 and Asad Shafiq made 107 on a pitch that still very much favours the batsmen.

Especially after yesterday, when the hosts used nine bowlers in desperate hope of making a breakthrough, they would have been further disheartened to concede such a huge amount.

What it needed was an effort akin to the first Test, when openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes both made big scores in the second innings to drag Bangladesh to a draw.

In that game, Iqbal and Kayes showed how important it is to battle hard in a game such as this where you face a large deficit, and their team-mates largely followed.

However, it was not to be in the second Test, as the batsmen struggled against a bowling attack who looked energised and dangerous.

Iqbal started well enough as he hit a four in the first over but was then caught leg before wicket by Junaid Khan just two balls later.

Following him, the remaining batsmen all got starts in their innings but were unable to push on and prevent a batting collapse that leaves Bangladesh well behind the visitors.

Khan did well to dismiss Mominul Haque, while Mahmudullah received a vicious lifting delivery from Wahab Riaz that he could only loop up to short leg.

A.M. Ahad/Associated Press

However, Kayes was beaten in the flight by spinner Yasir Shah to be bowled, something that is understandable but frustrating given he was on 32 at the time from 46 balls.

The opener had looked in good form but needed to stay until the end of the day and beyond to help his side get themselves somewhere close to parity or to avoid the follow-on.

By the time Mushfiqur Rahim was bowled by Shah from what turned out to be the last ball of the day, Bangladesh were in real trouble.

After the conclusion of the day, Kayes said, per ESPNCricinfo, that he felt that Pakistan’s disciplined bowling was what undid Bangladesh.

"

We were not batting in a hurry. We played our shots as they were bowling away from the body. It wasn't that there was a lot of good balls, there were some. It is nothing more than that. They bowled well in Khulna. They bowled well here too but we got out and put ourselves under pressure. The batsmen try to take responsibility, but it doesn't always come off.

"

They will be extremely disappointed to find themselves in this position, 450 runs behind with five wickets in hand and still 250 away from avoiding the follow-on.

On this day, Bangladesh looked unable to cope with the pressure from their opponents, and they only really have themselves to blame.