Abid Ali scored his fourth Test century but the spinners struck fast to keep Bangladesh’s hopes alive at lunch on the third day against Pakistan on Sunday.
Taijul Islam claimed three, including back-to-back wickets in the first over of the morning in the first Test in Chittagong, as Bangladesh restricted the tourists to 203-4.
Mehdi Hasan Miraj took the second wicket as Abid completed his century with a run off Taijul and remained unbeaten on 127 at intervals after resuming his innings at 93.
He was accompanied by Mohammad Rizwan on five, while Pakistan were trailing by 127 runs in Bangladesh’s first innings total of 330.
Pakistan, who resumed at 145-0 and looked set for a big total, were dealt a blow very early when Taijul trapped debutant Abdullah Shafiq on the fifth ball of the day leg-before.
Shafiq went on without adding to his overnight 52.
On the next ball, Taijul dismissed Azhar Ali for a duck when the delivery hit his leg. Azhar was initially given not out but upon review, the decision was reversed.
Babar Azam saw the hat-trick delivery in Taijul’s next over but could not last long.
After the Pakistan captain scored only 10 runs, Mehdi dislodged his off-stump with a straight ball. Taijul took his third wicket when he dismissed Fawad Alam with a spin and dismissed the batsman for eight.
Bangladesh demanded a review after the umpire turned down the catch-back appeal.
Replays indicated that the ball touched a feather on Alam’s glove, ending his brief stay at the crease. Abid, who hit 11 fours and two sixes so far, was also lucky as Najmul Hossain dropped him at slips for 113 off Taijul’s delivery.
second day
An unbroken opening century from Abid and debutant Abdullah Shafiq gave Pakistan a solid platform after bowling Bangladesh out for 330 on the second day on Saturday.
Ali remained unbeaten on 93 with his fourth Test century, while Shafiq was batting on 52 as Pakistan reached 145–0 at stumps, 185 shy of Bangladesh’s first innings total.
Fast bowler Hasan Ali led Pakistan with the first ball, ending with 5-51, his sixth five-wicket haul, keeping Bangladesh in check after the hosts’ resume with 253-4 in the morning . Ali’s spell complemented Faheem Ashraf’s 3-54 and Shaheen Afridi’s 2-70.
Liton Das top-scored with 114 for Bangladesh, adding just one run to their overnight score, while Mushfiqur Rahim, who was unbeaten on 82 at the end of the first day’s play, fell for 91.
Mehdi Hasan played an unbeaten 38 to take Bangladesh to the 300-run mark before Hasan finished Bangladesh’s innings with two wickets in two balls.
Pakistan had Bangladesh on the ropes at 49-4 on day one, but the hosts bounced back thanks to Liton and Mushfiqur.
From the start of the second day’s play, Pakistan were looking fast when Hasan got Liton out leg before in the second over of the morning.
On his back foot, Liton was initially given not out, but Pakistan successfully reviewed the decision. Liton, who shared a 206-run partnership with Mushfiqur in the fifth wicket, hit 11 fours and a six in his 233-ball knock.
Hasan then dismissed Yasir Ali for four runs.
Faheem took a thin lead off Mushfiqur’s bat, effectively eliminating Bangladesh’s chance for a big score.
Mushfiqur hit 11 fours in his innings of 225 balls at the crease.