Azhar's double ton puts Pakistan in control on Day 2

Azhar Ali struck his maiden Test double hundred and Asad Shafiq registered his sixth century as Pakistan took firm control of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur, Dhaka , on Thursday.

After declaring their first innings on a commanding 557 for eight, the visitors consolidated their position by blowing away the top half of the Bangladesh batting order to reduce them to 107 for five at the end of second day's play.

Shakib Al Hasan (14) was unbeaten at the crease for the hosts, who trail Pakistan by 450 runs with five wickets in hand and still need 251 runs to avoid follow-on.

Pakistan's 50-over captain Azhar, unbeaten on 127 overnight, brought up his double hundred with a six over long-on off left-arm spinner Shakib and went on to make 226.

The right-hander added 207 for the fifth wicket with Shafiq (107) after Pakistan lost captain Misbah-ul-Haq (nine) early in the first session.

Azhar holed out in the deep trying to hit a six against off-spinner Shuvagata Hom, who also dismissed Shafiq after the batsman had completed his hundred.

Pakistan lost four wickets for 27 runs trying to increase the tempo, with left-arm spinner Taijul Islam (3-179) taking two wickets in an over prompting Misbah to declare at tea.

The declaration ended the misery for Bangladesh's bowlers but trouble started for their batsmen.

Left-arm seamer Junaid Khan dismissed last Test's double centurion Tamim Iqbal (four) in the first over and sent back Mominul Haque (13) to give Pakistan a strong start with the new ball.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah bowled Imrul Kayes (32) before dismissing Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (12) with the last ball of the day to compound the hosts' crisis.

Paceman Wahab Riaz accounted for Mahmudullah (28).

Bangladesh blanked Pakistan 3-0 in the ODI series and also won the lone Twenty20 match before drawing the first test at Khulna, despite conceding a huge first innings deficit.

Scoreboard:

Pakistan 1st innings (Overnight: 323-3)
M. Hafeez c Rahim b Shahid 8
S. Aslam c S. Hossain b T. Islam 19
Az. Ali c Mahmudullah b Hom 226
Y. Khan c Hom b Shahid 148
Misbah-ul-Haq b Al Hasan 9
A. Shafiq c Mahmudullah b Hom 107
S. Ahmed not out 21
W. Riaz c Kayes b T. Islam 4
Y. Shah lbw b T. Islam 0

Extras (lb-8 nb-5 w-2) 15

Total (for 8 wickets declared, 152 overs) 557

Fall of wickets: 1-9 M. Hafeez, 2-58 S. Aslam, 3-308 Y. Khan, 4-323 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5-530 Az. Ali, 6-545 A. Shafiq, 7-552 W. Riaz, 8-557 Y. Shah.

Did not bat: J. Khan, I. Khan

Bowling: S. Hossain 0.2-0-4-0, S. Sarkar 17.4-1-57-0(nb-2 w-1), M. Shahid 31-10-72-2(nb-3 w-1), T. Islam 51-3-179-3, S. Hom 16-0-76-2, S. Al Hasan 30-3-136-1, M. Haque 3-0-12-0, Mahmudullah 2-0-12-0, I. Kayes 1-0-1-0.

Bangladesh 1st innings
T. Iqbal lbw b J. Khan 4
I. Kayes b Shah 32
M. Haque c S. Ahmed b J. Khan 13
Mahmudullah c Az. Ali b Riaz 28
S. Al Hasan not out 14
M. Rahim b Shah 12

Extras (lb-2 w-2) 4

Total (for 5 wickets, 27.5 overs)  107

Fall of wickets: 1-4 T. Iqbal, 2-38 M. Haque, 3-69 I. Kayes, 4-85 Mahmudullah, 5-107 M. Rahim.

To bat: S. Sarkar, S. Hom, T. Islam, S. Hossain, M. Shahid

Bowling: J. Khan 6-2-26-2(w-1), I. Khan 7-0-31-0, W. Riaz 8-1-33-1(w-1), Y. Shah 5.5-1-15-2, M. Hafeez 1-1-0-0.

Image: Azhar Ali of Pakistan.

Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images