Umar stakes Test claim in match against Bangladesh A

ISLAMABAD: Umar Amin (177) staked his claim to a place in the Test side with a brilliant big hundred to put Pakistan Shaheens in total command against Bangladesh ‘A’ following the second day’s play at the Islamabad Club Ground Wednesday.

Umar’s dazzling knock saw Shaheens reaching 367-4, taking an overall lead of 245 with six wickets and two days to spare. The brilliant batsman struck 23 boundaries and three sixes during his 211-ball stay at the wicket to lead Shaheens’ dominance.

Captain Saud Shakeel joined the experienced Umar at the fall of the second wicket and the pair knitted a 195-run partnership for the third wicket. During the partnership, left-handed Umar brought up his century. He fell 23 runs short of a double-century. After resuming their first innings at the overnight score of two for no loss, the home side were dealt a blow when left-handed batter Saim Ayub returned to the hut, scoring 11 off 28 balls, including a four. Mohammad Huraira was the second batter to be dismissed, scoring 39 off 67 balls, and hitting five boundaries.

After Umar’s departure late evening, fellow southpaw Saud soon followed the centurion and was stumped off the bowling of Hasan for 76 with the scorecard reading 322-4. Saud’s innings included nine boundaries across 132 deliveries.

At stumps, Shaheens were 367-4 in 90 overs, with a first-innings lead of 245 runs. Saad Khan (31 not out) and Kamran Ghulam (20 not out), will resume batting on the third day, beginning at 09.30am. For Bangladesh ‘A’, left-arm spinner Hasan Murad bagged 2-49.

Scores in brief: Bangladesh ‘A’ 122 all out, 44.3 overs (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 65; Naseem Shah 3-24, Mir Hamza 3-33, Mohammad Rameez Jnr 2-41). Pakistan Shaheens 367-4, 90 overs (Umar Amin 177, Saud Shakeel 76, Mohammad Huraira 39, Saad Khan 31 not out, Kamran Ghulam 20 not out; Hasan Murad 2-49, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 1-67, Nayeem Hasan 1-81).