- Bangladesh reach 93-2 at lunch in 31 overs.
- Mominul and Shanto rebuilt the innings with a half-century partnership.
- Pakistan conceded a slight deficit of 27 runs in the first innings.
MIRPUR: Bangladesh strengthened their position on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan despite losing two early wickets, extending their lead to 120 runs before lunch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Resuming the day at 7-0 after 1.5 overs, Bangladesh reached 93-2 at lunch in 31 overs, extending their lead to 120 despite losing the first two games early in the session.
Mominul Haque batted comfortably on 37 off 82 deliveries, including three boundaries, while Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 34 off 57 balls with four fours as the two also put up a valuable 50-run partnership.
Mohammad Abbas provided the breakthrough, trapping Mahmudul Hasan Joy lbw for five off 26 deliveries. Hasan Ali then joined the attack, removing Shadman Islam, who made 10 off 22 balls, including two boundaries.
After the initial setbacks, Mominul Haque and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto stabilized the innings with a composed partnership, guiding Bangladesh past the 50-run mark and ensuring they remained in control of the session.
After being asked to bat first, the home side were bowled out for 413 in 117.1 overs in the first innings, thanks to stellar batting performances from Mominul Haque, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim.
Recovering from 31-2 down, Haque and Shanto batted judiciously and formed a 170-run partnership, with both batters accumulating half-centuries, while the skipper scored a century.
Haque was dismissed for 91 off 200 deliveries, including 10 fours, by Noman Ali, while Najmul Hossain top-scored with 101 off 130 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes before falling to Mohammad Abbas.
Mushfiqur made a vital contribution of 71 off 179 deliveries, laced with eight fours, before being dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, while useful lower-order contributions came from Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed.
Das played a handy knock of 33 off 67 deliveries, including five fours, while Taskin scored a brisk knock of 28 off 19 balls, smashing three fours and a six.
Mohammad Abbas led the bowling attack for the visitors with figures of 5/92 in 34 overs. Shaheen Afridi claimed three wickets, while Hasan Ali and Noman Ali picked up one each.
In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 386 in 100.3 overs, giving Bangladesh a slim 27-run lead despite a century and three half-centuries from debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, as well as senior batter Salman Ali Agha and keeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Awais started positively, quickly finding boundaries and building a strong foundation to ease the pressure after Bangladesh’s imposing first-innings total.
Both men continued to put pressure on the Bangladesh bowlers, with some smooth runs in the final session of play. Azan Awais raised his bat for his maiden Test fifty as the duo also conjured up a 100-run opening partnership.
However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided the breakthrough by dismissing Imam-ul-Haq, who fell for 45 off 72 deliveries, hitting six fours, leaving Pakistan at 106-1 in 22 overs.
Azan Awais top-scored with 103 from 105 deliveries, including 14 fours, before being dismissed by Taskin Ahmed, while Abdullah Fazal contributed 60 from 120 balls, including seven fours and a six, before falling to Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Salman Ali Agha and Rizwan also batted sensibly, with Agha scoring 58 from 94 balls, including six fours and a six, while the wicketkeeper-batsman made 59 from 79 balls, hitting eight fours.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled for the hosts with figures of 5/102 in 38 overs. Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam claimed two wickets each, while Nahid Rana chipped in with one wicket.
