Mushfiqur Rahim’s magnificent 137 off 233 balls steered Bangladesh to 390 all out in their second innings on day three of the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, setting Pakistan a target of 437 runs to win.
At stumps, Pakistan had reached 0 for 0 after two overs, with bad light forcing the players off before any damage could be done.
The day began with Bangladesh at 110 for 3, and Najmul Hossain Shanto unbeaten on 13 overnight. He could add only two more runs to his score before Khurram Shahzad trapped him lbw with a delivery that nipped back in sharply, leaving Bangladesh at 112 for 4. Shanto struggled through 46 balls for his 15.
Litton Das walked out and immediately shifted the mood. He struck boundaries freely from the start, scoring 21 from his first 23 balls, and pushed the partnership along at a brisk pace while Mushfiqur held firm from the other end. The two shared a 123-run fifth-wicket stand that took the game firmly away from Pakistan.
In the first over after lunch, Litton reached his half-century, becoming only the third occasion he has scored a century and a half-century in the same Test match, the most by any Bangladesh wicketkeeper in Tests, going past Mushfiqur’s own record of two. Litton eventually fell for 69 when his uppercut off Hasan Ali found Saud Shakeel at fly slip.
Shahzad returned to clean-bowl Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 19, picking up his fourth wicket of the innings and leaving Bangladesh at 307 for 6 at tea, with Mushfiqur unbeaten on 90 and Taijul Islam offering steady company.
The afternoon session also produced a heated exchange on the field when Mushfiqur got into an argument with Pakistan captain Shan Masood. Masood then tried to engage Taijul as well, but Bangladesh got the better of that round too. Next ball, Taijul pulled Khurram Shahzad with one foot off the ground to loud applause from the crowd.
After tea, Mushfiqur continued to farm the strike and reached his century off 178 balls, his 14th Test hundred and a new Bangladesh record, going past Mominul Haque’s previous mark of 13. Taijul fell to Sajid Khan for 26 after contributing a fifty stand with Mushfiqur. Hasan Ali removed Taskin Ahmed for 6, and Sajid picked up Shoriful Islam as well. Mushfiqur finally holed out to Mohammad Abbas off Sajid Khan for 137, ending Bangladesh’s innings at 390 in 102.2 overs. Sajid Khan finished with three wickets, while Khurram Shahzad took four.
Pakistan’s openers Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal survived two overs before bad light ended the day’s play. The third session produced 83 runs and four wickets.
Pakistan now face a mountainous target of 437 runs with four days of cricket behind them and the hosts’ bowlers rested and ready. Their record in fourth-innings chases offers little encouragement, and they suffered a heavy collapse in the first Test’s final innings. The pitch at Sylhet is expected to assist the spinners, and Bangladesh will look to wrap up proceedings quickly on day four.
Session breakdown, day three: first session 26.2 overs, 93 runs, 1 wicket. Second session 26 overs, 104 runs, 2 wickets. Third session 25.2 overs, 83 runs, 4 wickets.
In the first innings, Bangladesh were bowled out for 278, with Litton Das scoring 126. Pakistan replied with 232, where Babar Azam top-scored with 68. Nahid Rana and Taijul Islam each took three wickets to hand Bangladesh a 46-run first-innings lead.
