Pakistan’s pace attack made immediate use of fresh morning conditions to leave Bangladesh reeling early, but a steadying partnership between captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim guided the hosts to 101-3 at lunch on Day 1 of the second Test in Sylhet.

After Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and opted to bowl, seamer Mohammad Abbas justified the decision on just the second ball of the match.

Abbas found immediate rhythm in the corridor, drawing a loose poke from Mahmudul Hasan Joy (0). The resulting outside edge was sharply taken low at second slip by Salman Agha, giving the visitors a dream start.

The early blow made debutant Tanzid Hasan partner the skipper. Tanzid showed initial flashes of confidence, striking three boundaries in a brisk 26 off 34 balls. 

However, his maiden Test innings came to an abrupt end due to a lapse in judgment. Facing a short delivery from Abbas, Tanzid attempted a reckless pull over mid-on but only managed a top-edge, which Abbas comfortably caught himself to leave Bangladesh at 44-2.

Mominul Haque joined Shanto to orchestrate a brief recovery, contributing 22 runs before Khurram Shahzad produced the delivery of the morning. Shahzad unleashed a sharp, skidding delivery that nipped back aggressively, beating Mominul’s defensive stride to shatter the top of off-stump and reduce the hosts to 63-3.

With the top-order back in the pavilion, Shanto and Mushfiqur showed necessary restraint to blunt the shifting momentum.

Shanto batted with calculated discipline to reach an unbeaten 26 off 51 balls, while Mushfiqur looked assured during his 18 not out. Together, the duo stitched an unbroken 38-run stand to push Bangladesh past the triple-figure mark just before the stroke of lunch.