Pakistan 206 for 8 (Shahzad 10*, Sajid 12*, Taijul 3-48) trail Bangladesh 278 (Litton 126, Shanto 29, Shahzad 4-81) by 72 runs
Pakistan began the post-lunch session with a bit of serenity with Babar Azam and Salman Agha adding 63 runs for the fifth wicket. Babar brought out his usual hits – the arrow straight drive, the glides through midwicket and the graceful square-cuts. He struck ten boundaries before tipping a simple catch to Mushfiqur Rahim at mid-on. It was the third time in as many Tests that Rana has now got him out, as Babar made 68 off 84 balls.
Taijul then got into the act, picking up three wickets. He got Salman to sweep one straight to deep square-leg where Mominul Haque completed the catch. Taijul then removed Mohammad Rizwan for 13, as Pakistan’s last recognized batter, before Hasan Ali holed out at mid-on where Rana took a tumbling catch.
Taskin and Mehidy took two wickets in the morning session as Pakistan’s top order crumbled quickly. Abdullah Fazal, opening the innings for the first time, was given a short working over by Taskin, before edging the fast bowler for nine. Litton Das, who made 126 on the first day, took the superb catch diving wide to his left.
Shoriful Islam from the other end bowled superbly at Azan Awais, who then fell to Taskin. The young opener who scored a century on his Test debut in Dhaka, made 13 runs before inside edging to Mominul Haque who ran in from short midwicket.
Mehidy struck in his first over, when he had Shan Masood for 21. The Pakistan captain struck the ball off the backfoot, straight to short cover where substitute fielder Nayeem Hasan held on to the low catch. Saud Shakeel’s wretched time also continued in this Test series, when he fell for eight. Mehidy. Shakeel top edged a sweep, which Litton picked up easily on top of the stumps.
Bangladesh’s 278 on the first day was thanks to Litton Das’ sixth Test century. He made 126 with sixteen fours and two sixes. Litton was on two when No 8 Taijul Islam walked into bat after Bangladesh fell to 116 for 6 after lunch. Litton added 162 runs with the tail, with Taijul, Taskin and Shoriful offering gutsy support. Khurram Shahzad was the pick of Pakistan’s bowlers with four wickets, while Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali took three and two wickets respectively.






