Pakistan eye sweep despite Shakib show

Umar Gul and Aizaz Cheema each took two wickets to boost Pakistan’s chances of winning the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Tuesday despite Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round display.The hosts were struggling at 114-5 in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day after conceding a lead of 132, with paceman Gul bagging two wickets off successive balls and Cheema finishing the day with 2-41.Nasir Hossain was unbeaten on 30 with Mushfiqur Rahim on seven not out. Pakistan lead 1-0 in the series after winning the first Test in Chittagong by an innings and 184 runs.Gul dismissed free-scoring Tamim Iqbal (21) and Shahriar Nafees for no score with his last two balls before the tea break after Pakistan were bowled out for 470 in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh’s 338.Tamim, who hit Cheema for three fours in an over, looked surprised when adjudged caught by skipper Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip while attempting to hook Gul, as TV replays suggested the ball had come off the helmet.Shakib, who smashed a career-best 144 in the first innings, also impressed as a left-arm spinner as he took 6-82 to become the first Bangladeshi to score a century and bag five or more wickets in a Test.He took five of the seven Pakistani wickets to fall in the day to complete his ninth haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings.“It was a great performance by Shakib. He batted and bowled well. I really praise him as an all-rounder and he’s doing a great job for Bangladesh,” said Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez.“At the moment we are in a dominating position. Tomorrow we will try to get the remaining wickets as soon as possible. We are hopeful of winning the Test.” Misbah earlier made an impressive 70 and Adnan Akmal hit 53 for his maiden Test half-century as Pakistan batted steadily in the opening two sessions after resuming at 292-3.Younis Khan (49), Asad Shafiq (42) and Abdur Rehman (24) were the other main scorers.Bangladesh’s fielding remained below par as they let off Misbah and Shafiq in the opening session and Akmal in the second after having dropped three catches on Monday.“Dropping catches is an area of concern for us. I think the bowlers are doing well and creating opportunities,” said Bangladesh coach Stuart Law.“Just before tea, we lost two wickets in two balls in decisions we felt were quite questionable. We are now 18 runs behind and if we can bat two and a half sessions tomorrow, I believe we can save the match.”Misbah played handsome shots in his 14th Test half-century, driving paceman Nazmul Hossain through the covers and then straight for two successive fours before twice reverse-sweeping left-arm spinner Elias Sunny for boundaries.But he was lucky to survive soon after completing his 50 as Robiul Islam dropped an easy catch at mid-on off Shakib. He eventually fell sweeping, caught by Mohammad Mahmudullah in the slips off Shakib. The Pakistani skipper hit 11 fours in his 123-ball knock.