SYLHET: Mohammad Rizwan’s and Salman Ali Agha’s battling half-centuries kept Pakistan in contention for a record chase against Bangladesh in the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Pakistan hit back to finish on 316-7 at the close of the fourth day’s play. He was unperturbed and scored 75 off 134 balls with eight fours. On the other hand, Sajid Khan remained unbeaten by nine, with two boundaries.
Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan added a further 96 runs to their solid stand after tea to keep the scoreboard ticking. Both the batsmen batted fluently and scored their fifties.
The pair added 296 to bring the target under the 200-run mark. But it was the new ball that worked in the opposite way for the home side.
Taijul Islam found his radar, snaring the dangerous 134-run stand with the wicket of Agha, who missed one through the gate. He scored 71 off 102 balls with six fours and a six.
Taijul then got Hasan Ali (0) caught at first slip after a couple of overs to put his side in a commanding position at the close of play.
Taijul Islam took two wickets in the final session for Bangladesh.
Pakistan were under pressure at 200-5 at tea despite Shan Masood’s fighting half-century.
Pakistan needs another 237 runs to chase a daunting 437-run target and level the two-match Test series. The visitors were 174 for six at the interval, with Salman Ali Agha unbeaten on 25 and Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 15 as they looked to keep their slim hopes alive.
After a tough morning session, Shan Masood and Babar Azam extended their third-wicket stand to 92 runs after lunch to lead Pakistan’s initial recovery.
Finally, Taijul Islam broke the stand by dismissing Babar Azam for 47 off 52 deliveriesPakistan’s problems worsened soon after as Saud Shakeel could only manage six runs before he departed, leaving the visitors under more pressure.
The other end, where Shan Masood was fighting out a gritty 71 off 116 balls, fell to Taijul in the following over – another setback for Pakistan.
Pakistan safely reached the tea interval without further damage; Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan combined cautiously with back-to-back wickets falling.
Pakistan resumed their mammoth chase earlier in the day at 0-0 but lost opener Abdullah Fazal early as Nahid Rana broke the opening stand with the score at 27.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz got rid of debutant Azan Awais for 21 when Pakistan was 41-2, as the hosts tightened their grip further.
Shan Masood and Babar Azam, however, stemmed the rot with a patient partnership, taking Pakistan to lunch at 101-2.
Earlier, Bangladesh made 390 in their second innings on the third day, with Mushfiqur Rahim’s record-breaking 14th Test century helping the hosts to establish a commanding position in the game.
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