Pakistan Flex Too Much Muscle

Nasir Hossain top scored with 41

It was a Chittagong day when Bangladesh could score less runs than New Zealand but make 60% of them in boundaries and then have Pakistan almost on equal terms in runs but with ten wickets in hand by stumps.

Pakistan won the toss and sent the brittle Bangladesh in. Off spinner Hafeez took the new ball with Umar Gul in what was a short lived experiment before Cheema replaced him. The two quicks had four of the first five wickets to fall, with Saeed Ajmal claiming the fifth. When the opening debutante, Nazimuddin was out after two hours of resistance as Gul returned and had him caught by Hafeez at grass cutter height in the slips, Bangladesh were 6-71. Nasir Hossain attacked in the tail and scored most of the last 64 runs. Ajmal and Rehman mopped up the tail, with Rehman winning flattering figures.

Mohammad Hafeez
in great form

Hafeez and Taufeeq both raised unbeaten half centuries in their century opening stand at three and a half an over. Taufeeq was lucky when an edge off Mahmudullah hit keeper Ramim's arm, avoided Nafees at slip and went down to the boundary for four and later he raised his fifty with a lofted drive high to the hand of Shahadat at mid on off Al Hasan. Hafeez continued his good form which has seen him score 429 at 71 since the beginning of September.

As reckless as Bangladesh are with the bat, Pakistan's good form and good application continues and they haven't lost a series since the controversial series against the world number one in England in mid 2010. In the five unbeaten series since they drew with South Africa and beat Sri Lanka. They should win both Tests comfortably in Bangladesh which will bring them level with Sri Lanka whose next series will be a tough three Test event in South Africa starting in a week.