Hafeez celebrates after scoring his maiden double century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez scored 224 to put his side in a commanding position over Bangladesh on the third day of the first Test in Khulna.

Hafeez was well supported by captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed as all three of them made half-centuries.

Starting out the day on 227/1, Hafeez and Azhar Ali converted their 177-run partnership into a 227-run partnership, during which Hafeez surpassed the 150-run mark, before Ali was clean bowled by Shuvagata Hom.

Ali’s excellent knock of 83 came off 177 balls and included four boundaries and a six.

Hafeez and Younis Khan put together a 62-run partnership before Khan was cleaned up by Taijul Islam for 33.

Hafeez and ul-Haq kept the runs flowing with a 63-run partnership, during which Hafeez registered his maiden double century, before he was caught by Mahmudullah at leg slip off the bowling of Hom.

Hafeez’s career-best knock of 224 came off 332 balls and included 23 boundaries and three sixes.

Pakistan continued to dominate with the bat as ul-Haq and Shafiq amassed a 66-run partnership, during which ul-Haq recorded his half-century, before he was caught by Rubel Hossain at backward square leg off the bowling of Islam.

Ul-Haq’s solid knock of 59 came off 122 deliveries and included four boundaries and two sixes.

Shafiq and Ahmed closed out the day on a high as they accumulated an unbeaten 69-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before stumps was called.

Shafiq finished on 51 off 103 balls, which included five boundaries, while Ahmed remained undefeated on 51 off 54 deliveries, which included three boundaries and two sixes.

Islam was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Hom took two.

Pakistan ended day three on 537/5 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:00 local time or 04:00 GMT.