Hafeez double-ton powers Pakistan in first Test

Mohammad Hafeez hit a career-best 224 as Pakistan took charge of the first Test against Bangladesh during the third day's play in Khulna on Thursday.The tourists batted the entire day to move from 227 for one to 537 for five by stumps, a lead of 205 runs over Bangladesh's first innings total of 332.

Hafeez, who started the day on 137, surpassed his previous best of 197, made in Pakistan's previous Test against New Zealand in Sharjah last November.The 34-year-old allrounder hit 23 boundaries and three sixes before being dismissed just before tea, gloving a sweep off Shuvagata Hom to Mahmudullah at leg slip.

Hafeez, who had fallen in the 190s on two previous occasions, moved to 198 with a fluent straight-driven four off Mohammad Shahid and then reached his maiden double century with a sweep off Taijul Islam.

The dominant batting display, in which Pakistan's top seven batsmen were all involved in partnerships of above 50, left the tourists two days to force a win and take the lead in the two-Test series.Azhar Ali looked good for a big score but on 83, he was bowled by Hom to end a 227-run partnership for the second wicket with Hafeez.

That was Bangladesh's only success in the morning session as veteran Younis Khan added 62 for the third wicket with Hafeez before he was bowled by Taijul for 33.Skipper Misbah-ul Haq put on 63 for the fourth wicket with Hafeez and 66 for the fifth with Asad Shafiq, himself scoring 59 with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.Misbah also fell to Taijul when he top-edged a sweep to backward square-leg where Rubel Hossain took the catch.At stumps, Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed were both unbeaten on 51, having put on 69 for the unbroken sixth wicket.

Bangladesh took the field without captain and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who had injured a finger while attempting to take a catch on the second day.

Imrul Kayes kept wickets and the captaincy was handed to Tamim Iqbal, whose review for a leg-before appeal was turned down when Hafeez was on 173.Bangladesh used eight bowlers on the slow pitch at the Sheikh Abu Naser stadium, the most expensive being star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, whose 31 wicketless overs of left-arm spin cost 122 runs.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 332 all out (Mominul Haque 80, Wahab Riaz 3 for 55) vs Pakistan 537 for 5 (Mohammad Hafeez 224, Azhar Ali 83, Taijul Islam 3 for 116) trailing by 205 runs.