PESHAWAR, 29 August 2003 — Express Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar snatched six wickets for 11 runs off 21 balls to wreck Bangladesh’s chances of a huge total on the second day of the second Test here yesterday.
Shoaib’s second career best figures of 6-50 helped the home team dismiss Bangladesh for 361 and overshadowed opener Javed Omar’s career best 119 for the tourists at Arbab Niaz stadium. At stumps Pakistan had reached 134-2 with opener Taufeeq Umer on 60 and Inzamam-ul Haq on 24.
Pakistan lost opener Mohammad Hafeez and twin century maker of the first Test Yasir Hameed for 23 on a day highlighted by Shoaib’s fiery performance. Shoaib, who used ice to keep himself cool in the oppressive heat, destroyed the Bangladesh middle and lower order with some hostile bowling as the tourists plummeted from a commanding 302-2 at lunch to lose their last eight wickets for 51 runs.
Omar, who reached his maiden century in the fourth over of the day, was Shoaib’s first victim, bowled by a full-length delivery, which triggered a familiar Bangladesh batting collapse. Bangladesh looked set to post a huge total once Omar and Mohammad Ashraful batted safely through the first session. But Shoaib, wicketless until lunch, bowled with a venom and fire that matched the weather conditions and changed the complexion of the match in the afternoon session. Umpire Russell Tiffin suffered from the heat and was allowed to sit out the last session in the umpire’s room as television umpire Asad Rauf took over. Shoaib said Pakistan still has a lot of work to do to wrest control of the Test.
“I think the job is still half done and we need to score and then bowl well again,” said 28-year-old Shoaib. “The conditions were extreme and its tough to run in from 40 yards and bowl but I am happy I am blessed with six wickets,” the pacer said.
Omar’s eight-hour nine-minute vigil lasted 357 balls and was spiced with 17 hits to the ropes. Shoaib, who vomited in the heat and made little impression the previous day, then dismissed Ashraful who miscued a hook and spooned an easy catch behind the wicket for Rashid Latif.
Ashraful hit seven boundaries and his stand with Omar created a new Bangladesh third-wicket record of 130, easily eclipsing the stand of 84 between Aminul Islam and Omar against India in their team’s inaugural Test in Dhaka three years ago.
The 28-year-old Shoaib, known as the Rawalpindi Express, then trapped Khaled Mashud leg before and yorked Mohammad Rafique in his 21st over to leave Bangladesh reeling at 320-8. Umer Gul chipped in to dismiss Mashrafe Murtaza for 10. But Bangladesh added 41 valuable runs for the last two wickets before Shoaib returned to finish the innings by dismissing Bangladesh skipper Khaled Mahmud for 25.
It was Shoaib’s sixth five-wicket haul and took his total tally to 97 wickets in 27 Tests.
