KARACHI, 22 August 2003 — Young Pakistani batsman Yasir Hameed hit a scintillating debut century to help Pakistan gain the upper hand on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh here yesterday. Hameed made a magnificent 170 as Pakistan finished the day on 301-5 in reply to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 288.
At close skipper Rashid Latif was unbeaten on 27 and Misbahul Haq was not out on 12 as Pakistan led by 13 runs. Hameed became the ninth Pakistani and the 76th batsman in Test cricket to hit a century in his first Test.
The 25-year-old, from Pakistan’s northwestern border city Peshawar, led the recovery after his team lost opener Mohammad Hafeez for two and then recalled Inzamam ul-Haq, who was out without scoring.
Hameed, who hit a double century in a domestic tournament final in February, swept Bangladeshi spinner Alok Kapali for his 18th boundary to hit three figures in 183 minutes off just 143 balls.
He finally played a tired looking pull straight to mid-on off Mashrafe Murtaza for 170 in 311 minutes, off 253 balls and spiced with 25 hits to the ropes.
Hameed added 97 for the second wicket with opener Taufeeq Umer and later steadied the innings with a 131-run stand for the fourth wicket with Yousuf Youhanna.
Umer, who also scored a debut century against Bangladesh two years ago, completed his 1,000th run in 14 Tests before driving straight into the hands of Javed Omar at point, off left arm spinner Mohammad Rafique.
Youhanna played second fiddle to Hameed during his knock of 46 before handing a return catch to part-time spinner Razin Saleh.
Pakistan’s most experienced batsman Inzamam, recalled for this Test after being sidelined for four months, lasted just five balls before scooping an easy catch off pacer Tapash Baisya for nought.
Bangladesh took the second new ball with Pakistan at 246-4 in an attempt to dislodge Hameed. However he continued to punish the hapless bowling with sweetly timed drives and cuts to erase Khalid Ibadullah’s 166, the best score for Pakistan on debut.
Hameed joins Khalid Ibadullah, Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, Mohammad Wasim, Ali Naqvi, Azhar Mahmood and Taufiq Umer as century makers in their first Test. Murtaza was the pick of Bangladeshi bowlers with 2-61.
In the morning Bangladesh’s Mohammad Rafique was the last man dismissed when he top edged a bouncer from Shabbir Ahmed and was smartly taken by Rashid Latif behind the stumps for 14.
Shabbir and Danish Kaneria finished with three wickets apiece while express bowler Shoaib Akhtar and Umer Gul took two wickets apiece. The series marks the return to Pakistan of international Test cricket after a 15-month boycott by foreign teams following a chain of deadly terror attacks.
