RAWALPINDI: The fifth and final day of the Rawalpindi Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh is moving towards a likely draw, with Pakistan struggling at 74/4 in their second innings.
Bangladesh, after a dominant performance, has a lead of 43 runs, putting pressure on the hosts.
Pakistan’s second innings started poorly, losing Saeem Ayub early for 23 runs. Captain Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafiq looked to stabilize the innings, but Masood fell for 14, caught in the slips after a tentative shot. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s star batsman, couldn’t make a significant impact either, getting bowled for 22.
The biggest blow came when Saud Shakeel, attempting an aggressive shot, was stumped for a duck, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position.
At present, Abdullah Shafiq remains at the crease on 29 runs, accompanied by Mohammad Rizwan, who is on 13. With Bangladesh’s lead still intact, the situation looks challenging for Pakistan as they aim to avoid a collapse on the final day.
The fourth day saw Bangladesh dominate with the bat, posting a formidable 565/6 in their first innings in response to Pakistan’s 448. The veteran Bangladeshi batsman Mushfiqur Rahim was the star of the day, playing a masterful knock of 191 runs off 341 balls, including 22 fours and a six. He was well-supported by Mehdi Hasan Meraj, who contributed a solid 77 runs off 179 balls.
Despite the efforts of Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Naseem Shah with three wickets and contributions from Shaheen Shah Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, and Muhammad Ali, who each took two wickets, Bangladesh secured a significant lead of 117 runs, setting the stage for a tense final day.
With the match heading towards a draw, Pakistan will need to bat out the remaining overs to avoid any further setbacks. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will look to capitalize on the pressure they’ve built and aim for a few quick wickets to create a chance for an unlikely victory. As the day progresses, all eyes will be on how Pakistan’s remaining batsmen handle the pressure and whether they can steer the game to a safe conclusion.
