Taufeeq impresses in second test (From Asian Image)

Taufeeq impresses in second test

12:18pm Monday 19th December 2011 in Sport

Taufeeq Umar hit 130 as Pakistan edged towards Bangladesh's first innings total in the second Test in Mirpur today.

The tourists lost only two wickets on a third day curtailed by morning fog and the bad light which forced a premature conclusion with Taufeeq the stand-out performer.

His seventh Test century enabled Pakistan to close on 292 for three, a deficit of 46 runs.

Bangladesh, clearly now targeting a draw, brought about the early finish when captain Mushfiqur Rahim responded to the sight of the umpire's light meters by bringing his seam bowlers back in.

It is hard to see any other result after a day largely played at a snail's pace, with most of the drama provided by the chances Bangladesh failed to take.

Taufeeq survived a stumping opportunity and two dropped catches before finally departing, with the first two missed chances proving particularly costly.

During a shortened morning session in which Pakistan scored 52 runs in 21 overs, Taufeeq enjoyed his first slice of luck when, on 56, he advanced down the pitch to Shakib Al Hasan and was beaten down the leg side. Instead of removing the bails, though, wicketkeeper Rahim appealed in vain for a catch.

That allowed both Taufeeq and Azhar Ali to reach lunch on half-centuries.

Although Azhar would go early in the afternoon for 57, it was Taufeeq who should have been immediately sent back to the pavilion, only to be dropped on the first delivery after lunch, put down in the slips by Nazimuddin off Robiul Islam while on 66.

Nazimuddin's drop was the first sign of a sloppy start to the second session from the hosts, with Shahadat Hossain conceding a needless boundary to Azhar three balls later with some terrible fielding.

However, Azhar was out when Shakib Al Hasan's teasing delivery spun away sharply, taking an outside edge before finding the gloves of Rahim.

That brought Younus Khan to the middle, although he played largely a supporting role, contributing 14 to a partnership that had reached 68 by tea.

Younus would benefit from Bangladesh's generous fielding in the first over of the final session, put down by Shahadat at deep midwicket, and one over later, Taufeeq survived when he offered a tough bat-pad chance off Elias Sunny which Shahriar Nafees could not hang on to.

There were two more warnings for Taufeeq before he finally succumbed, almost offering a caught-and-bowled chance to Nasir Hossain before a Nazmul Hossain delivery beat him outside the off stump.

Nazmul got the wicket two deliveries later, with Taufeeq advanced down the pitch and forced to play at a ball he could only edge to Nafees in the slips.

With the light closing in, Younus (48) and Misbah-ul-Haq (26) carried Pakistan through to the finish without further damage, but time could be running out for them to force a result.