MIRPUR, Bangladesh: Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed a five-wicket haul to help Bangladesh secure a narrow first-innings lead over Pakistan on the third day of the opening Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday, despite a composed century on debut by Pakistan batter Azan Awais.
Pakistan were bowled out for 386 in 100.3 overs in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 413, handing the hosts a slender 27-run lead.
Only 11 deliveries were possible after the innings break before bad light forced umpires Richard Kettleborough and Kumar Dharmasena to call an early end to play.
At stumps, Bangladesh were 7 without loss in 1.5 overs, extending their overall lead to 34 runs with all 10 wickets intact.
Pakistan resumed the day strongly on 179-1, with debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal continuing their overnight stand.
The pair stretched their partnership beyond 100 before fast bowler Taskin Ahmed removed Azan shortly after the left-hander completed a century on Test debut.
Azan top-scored with 103 from 165 deliveries, hitting 14 boundaries in a patient innings.
His dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse as Pakistan slipped from 209-1 to 230-5.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood was dismissed for nine, while Saud Shakeel fell for a duck.
Fazal contributed a resilient 60 before becoming one of Miraz’s victims.
With Pakistan in trouble, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha rebuilt the innings with a 119-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Both batters completed half-centuries as they guided Pakistan closer to Bangladesh’s total.
Rizwan scored 59 from 79 balls, striking eight fours before lofting Taijul Islam to mid-off on the final delivery before tea.
Agha remained firm and added further runs with the lower order before he was eventually dismissed for 58 by Nahid Rana in the final session.
Pakistan’s tail added only 37 runs after tea as Bangladesh seized control late in the day.
Miraz was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, finishing with figures of 5-102 in 38 overs.
Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam claimed two wickets each, while Nahid Rana picked up one.
Pakistan’s innings ended when Hasan Ali attempted an aggressive shot against Taijul Islam and was bowled.
