With 5 centuries in an innings Pakistan maul Bangladesh

It was Pakistan's day right through. Batting the whole day and piling up a gigantic total of 546 for the loss of only 3 wickets was a fantastic performance. Four out of the five centuries were scored during the day and gave it a historical dimension. The Bangladesh bowlers and fielders toiled hard in the heat without any gains. Then Bangladesh lost 3 wickets for 55 and do not look to have a chance to survive the 3rd day.

Pakistan batsmen gave such a superb display of batting that it was really difficult to single out one from the other. All the centurions, Saeed Anwar (101), Taufeeq Umar (104), Inzamam ul Haq (105*), Abdur Razzaq (110*) and Yousuf Youhana (102*) batted with such flourish that the Bangladesh bowlers and fielders looked totally ineffective. The batsmen made no mistakes, and took no chances and literally punished the bowlers around the ground.

Out of all the century makers, it was an auspicious occasion for young Taufeeq Umar who achieved the distinction of becoming Pakistan's 8th batsman to score a century on test debut. The only casualty of the day, Taufeeq, returned to the pavilion with glory and off course no regrets. Inzamam retired hurt (dehydration) but with a grand century in his bag in his home town.

The Bangladesh bowling whether pace or spin made no impact on the batsmen. The bowlers were punished right, left and centre with a flurry of shots to the boundary as well as over the fence. A stage came when Yousuf Youhana and Abdur Razzaq achieved such mastery over the bowling that they were engaged in a race as to who would score his century first.

At tea Pakistan was 492 for 3 with lots of speculation whether the skipper would declare or provide a chance to the two players to complete their centuries. Waqar chose the latter course to encourage the players and the race continued and both Youhana and Razzaq completed their centuries, bringing the team's achievement into the record books.

Certainly good experience for the Bangladesh bowling but they were unable to break the partnership. Pakistan declared at 543 for 3, enjoying a 1st innings lead of 412, a deficit considered impossible for the visitors to meet.

Bangladesh started their 2nd innings to face 19 remaining overs but could muster no tangible strength to face the Pakistan bowlers. They lost 3 wickets for only 55 runs on the board. Even Pakistan's young bowlers like Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Malik proving too good for them. The visitors do not appear to have a chance to survive beyond the 3rd day and an innings defeat is staring at them.