On the fourth day of the opening Test cricket fixture between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the hosts entered the lunch interval at 93 runs for the loss of two wickets, extending their overall lead over the visiting side to a solid 115 runs. The steady, determined batting performance from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran batter Mominul Haque laid the foundation for Bangladesh’s advantageous position after an early collapse put the team on the back foot early in the second innings.
Bangladesh began the day smoothly, resuming their second innings at 7 runs without any losses. However, Pakistan’s fast bowling attack struck twice in quick succession to flip the early momentum. Pace bowler Mohammad Abbas trapped opener Mahmudul Hasan leg before wicket for a score of 5, breaking the first opening partnership. Shortly after, fellow pacer Hasan Ali claimed the second wicket, dismissing Shadman Islam for 10. Islam was caught off guard by an unexpected extra bounce from the delivery, and Saud Shakeel secured a clean catch at gully to end the batter’s innings. By the 11th over of the second innings, Bangladesh had been reduced to just 23 runs for two wickets, putting the hosts in a precarious position.
Facing a potential collapse, Shanto and Mominul stepped up to rebuild the innings, repeating the stubborn rearguard performance they had delivered in Bangladesh’s first innings. The pair put together an unbeaten 70-run partnership for the third wicket, frustrating Pakistan’s bowling attack and dragging the hosts back into a commanding position. At the lunch break, Shanto – who had already notched up a century in Bangladesh’s first innings – remained unbeaten on 34 runs, while Mominul was also not out on 37 runs, holding firm against the tourists’ pressure.
The solid second innings partnership puts Bangladesh on track to set a challenging target for Pakistan to chase in their final innings. Looking back at the match’s earlier proceedings, Bangladesh posted a strong first innings total of 414 after being bowled out, claiming a 27-run first innings lead after dismissing Pakistan for 386. Offspinner Mehidy Hasan was the star of Bangladesh’s first innings bowling performance, taking a five-wicket haul to dismantle the tourists’ batting line-up.