Pakistan closed day four of the second Test against Bangaldesh at 316-7 in 86 overs, still needing 121 runs to win with three wickets remaining and one day left.
At lunch, Pakistan were 101-2 with Shan Masood and Babar Azam at the crease. While the match seemed to be drifting toward Bangladesh, what followed through the afternoon and the final session was a back-and-forth battle that kept the ground on edge until bad light ended play with two minutes remaining.
After lunch, Masood and Babar extended their partnership to 92 runs, with Masood looking increasingly comfortable against the spinners and Babar taking on the pace bowlers. A nudge to long-on brought up Masood’s first half-century of the series. The momentum then swung sharply back to Bangladesh as Taijul Islam drew a careless flick from Babar, who got a faint edge that Mushfiqur Rahim held on to, for 47.
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Saud Shakeel and Masood then fell within six balls of each other, with Nahid Rana inducing Shakeel to edge behind before Taijul drew extra bounce and had Masood flicking to short leg, where Mahmudul Hasan Joy grabbed a sharp catch. Masood departed for 71. Pakistan wobbled at 200 for 5.
However, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan steadied the innings with a fighting sixth-wicket stand of 132 runs. Both batters hit boundaries freely and kept the run rate above three throughout their partnership.
Taijul eventually bowled Agha through the gate with an arm ball for 71, and Hasan Ali fell soon after, caught at first slip off Taijul for a low score. Rizwan remained unbeaten at the stumps, having scored 75 off 134 balls, with Sajid Khan holding firm at the other end on 8 runs.
Bangladesh took seven wickets on the day but could not finish the job, with bad light once again ending the session early. Nahid Rana and Taijul Islam each took two wickets in the day’s play.
Pakistan now need 121 runs on the final day with three wickets in hand. Bangladesh need three more wickets to clinch a 2-0 series sweep. On a surface that has aided spin throughout the match, the hosts remain firm favourites, but Rizwan’s presence at the crease ensures an absorbing final day.
