Bangladesh 262 and 42 for 0 (Zakir 31*) need another 143 runs to beat Pakistan 274 and 172 (Agha 47*, Rizwan 43, Mahmud 5-43, Nahid 4-44)
On the fourth day of the second Test in Rawalpindi, Bangladesh made significant progress towards a 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan thanks to a combined nine wicket haul from Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana.
Mahmud secured his first-ever five-wicket haul in Test cricket on the fourth afternoon after taking two wickets at the close of the previous day. He finished with 5 for 43 in 10.4 overs in his third Test. As Pakistan was knocked out for 172 in their second innings, Rana also achieved his highest Test figures of 4 for 44, establishing a target of 185. This was the first time in Bangladesh’s Test history that all ten wickets were taken by fast bowlers, with Taskin Ahmed claiming the other wicket.
With an optimistic attitude, Zakir Hasan scored 31 runs without conceding a wicket off 23 balls, including two fours and two sixes, helping Bangladesh erase 42 runs off the total in just seven overs. When poor light and later rain brought an early end to the day just after tea on September 9, he had Shadman Islam to himself. Bangladesh has to score an additional 143 runs on the last day of the match in order to win their third foreign Test series and their first since a 1-0 triumph in Zimbabwe in 2021.
With a lead of 21, Pakistan resumed on 9 for 2, and things were looking great for the country with Shan Masood and Saim Ayub looking good. Masood started by sending Taskin hurtling into the air, and then Ayub cut the fast bowler off his pads. Though there were a few misplays and tight leaves, the pair appeared relatively unfazed as they amassed 34 runs in the opening 6.2 overs of the day.
However, Ayub’s wild drive soon followed, and Bangladesh stormed back. After Taskin bowled a full outside off stump, Ayub attempted a drive up the middle but was caught by Najmul Hossain Shanto. Although Babar Azam began by squarely cutting off Taskin, he was not acting like the regular Babar Azam. Mehidy Hasan Miraz attempted a straight ball, but he missed it and got hit on the pad. Replays revealed the ball was missing the leg stump, notwithstanding Bangladesh’s review of the on-field judgement of not out.
When Nahid entered the attack in the seventeenth over, he struck after just three balls. Masood was dismissed by him after his feeble attempt at a drive was easily caught by the wicketkeeper with ease when it struck the outside edge. Then, Nahid got Babar to edge to first slip with a ball of decent length that bounced a little bit higher than the hitter had anticipated. With the first ball, he ought to have removed Mohammad Rizwan, but Shadman, who had dropped a catch the previous delivery, dropped an almost identical opportunity.
Pakistan went from 47 for 2 to 81 for 6, and Nahid took his third wicket when Saud Shakeel hung his bat out, giving Litton Das an easy catch. But when Pakistan’s lead grew to 129, Rizwan and Salman Agha ensured they would not lose another wicket till lunchtime.
Bangladesh adhered to their plan, making sure there were no easy runs, while Rizwan was still disoriented and searching for fast runs. Mahmud stayed in the channel outside off stump, not as sharp as he had been in the previous session. Rizwan played away from his body and gave the wicketkeeper a tiny edge, which resulted in a false shot. Mahmud had Mohammad Ali edging to first slip with the very next ball.
The scoreboard showed 145 for 9, but Abrar Ahmed was out of luck, surviving only 12 balls and becoming Rana’s fourth victim. However, Agha, who for the second time in the game added crucial runs with the bottom order, delayed the innings’ quick conclusion. Before Mahmud claimed his fifth wicket, he and Mir Hamza put up a 27-run partnership. The ball was lobbing to Mehidy at second slip after coming in via an inside edge onto the pad. With the ball held aloft, Mahmud bowed to the ground and led the squad off the pitch.
Pakistan wanted early wickets, but Zakir’s early movement dashed their hopes. His footwork was aggressive and he frequently charged at the bowlers early. As Bangladesh advanced 37 for no loss in six overs at tea, he clipped Khurram Shahzad for a six over long leg and then pulled him for another six, this time over deep-backward square leg.
After the break, play could only last one over before it grew too dark to continue.