Bangladesh openers begin briskly in 185 chase before bad light pauses play

Tea Bangladesh 262 and 37 for 0 (Zakir 27*) need another 148 runs to beat Pakistan 274 and 172 (Salman 47, Rizwan 43, Mahmud 5-43, Nahid 4-44)

Pakistan’s attempt at setting a strong second innings total was thwarted by Rana and Mahmud. Rana picked three wickets in a searing morning burst, while Mahmud added three more wickets to his overnight tally to finish with a career-best 5 for 43. Rana meanwhile also secured career-best Test figures of 4 for 44.

Resuming at 117 for 6 after the lunch break, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman’s primary aim was to extend that 129-run lead by as much as possible. Salman started positively, getting an edge over the slip fielder’s head on the second ball of the session. But the Bangladesh bowlers held their end well, not giving away easy runs.

There were no boundaries for the next five overs and that led to a false stroke from Rizwan. Mahmud, who had struck twice at the fag end of day three, lured Rizwan outside the off stump for an edge that was lapped up by the wicketkeeper in a jiffy. The very next ball, he had Mohammad Ali edging to first slip.

The hat-trick ball was blocked neatly, but runs were the need of the hour. Salman tried farming most of the strike but wasn’t always successful and that meant No. 10 Abrar Ahmed was forced to face one full over of Nahid. He could only survive three balls, edging the fourth to Shadman Islam at first slip with the scorecard reading 145 for 9.

Salman, however, added vital runs with No. 11 Hamza. He struck a few solid fours against Mahmud and Nahid, also smashing the latter for a six over deep point. But Hamza’s luck ran out when he inside-edged a Mahmud delivery onto his pad with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking a good low catch at slip.

Earlier, Bangladesh nipped out four Pakistan batters in the morning session with Rana being the wrecker-in-chief, picking 3 for 22 in a searing burst. Leading by 21 runs overnight, it was shaping up to be a good morning for the hosts with Saim Ayub and Shan Masood looking positive. Masood began by punching Taskin Ahmed down the ground for three runs before Ayub clipped the pace bowler neatly off his pads.

There were a few plays and misses, and tight leaves, but the duo largely looked untroubled as they collected 34 runs in the first 6.2 overs of the day. But then came a loose drive from Ayub and Bangladesh came galloping back.

Taskin got a ball to float up fuller outside the off stump enticing Ayub into a false stroke, who went for a drive on the up only to find Najmul Hossain Shanto at mid-off. Babar Azam started with cracking a square cut off Taskin but was far from his usual self. He missed a straight ball from Mehidy and was hit on the pads as Bangladesh reviewed, but replays suggested the ball was spinning past the leg stump.

Nahid was introduced into the attack in the 17th over and he immediately got among the wickets. He first sent back Masood, whose half-hearted attempt at a drive only caught the outside edge for a simple catch to the wicketkeeper. Nahid then had Babar edging to first slip with a good-length ball that bounced a touch more than what the batter expected. He should have dismissed Rizwan first ball but Shadman Islam, who had taken a catch the previous delivery, spilled an almost identical chance.

Bowling at speeds in excess of 140kph, he continued to hurry the Pakistan batters and was soon rewarded a third time with the wicket of Saud Shakeel who just hung his bat out for a simple catch to Litton Das. From 47 for 2, Pakistan slipped to 81 for 6, with the series slipping away. Nahid then caused more pain when he struck Rizwan on the side of the helmet with a nasty bouncer. Rizwan was visibly shaken and called upon the physio more than a couple of times but carried on.

Still looking a bit fuzzy, Rizwan went for his shots. He grew in confidence and got the much-needed boundaries almost every over thereon. Salman also played his part and ensured Pakistan did not lose another wicket in the session.