8 months ago
201
As we move into Day 4, Pakistan's top order will have to step up and build a substantial lead to give their bowlers something to defend. Shan Masood, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan will be under immense pressure to deliver, especially after a disappointing start. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be buoyed by their strong finish on Day 3 and will aim to keep the momentum going. With both teams having shown moments of brilliance and vulnerability, Day 4 promises to be decisive in this Test match. Rain is expected today and on Day 5 as well but let's hope that it stays away. Stay tuned with the first ball set to be bowled at 4.45 am GMT, weather permitting.
Litton Das, however, was not done yet. He continued his innings with determination and reached his fourth Test century, a knock that held the Bangladesh innings together. Alongside Hasan Mahmud, Das added a further 69 runs for the ninth wicket, frustrating the Pakistani bowlers who were searching for a quick end to the innings. Eventually, Salman Ali Agha managed to dismiss Das for a valiant 138, breaking the stubborn 69-run partnership. Bangladesh's innings concluded at 262 runs in 78.4 overs, just 12 runs shy of Pakistan's first-innings total. The final few overs of the day were crucial, and Pakistan needed to avoid further setbacks. However, Bangladesh struck early, with Abdullah Shafique falling, chasing a wide delivery before the nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad fell on what ended up being the final ball of the day.
But cricket, especially in the longest format, often throws up surprises, and Day 3 was no exception. Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan orchestrated a phenomenal rescue act for Bangladesh, demonstrating resilience and composure under pressure. Their partnership for the seventh wicket, worth 165 runs, was a record-breaking feat. For the first time in Test cricket history, a seventh-wicket stand crossed 150 runs after the first six wickets fell for under 30. Mehidy played a crucial role with his well-crafted 78 before finally succumbing to Shahzad just before the Tea break.
Day 3 began with Bangladesh at 10/0, facing a tricky task after two overs the previous evening. However, the morning session was all about Pakistan's bowlers, particularly Khurram Shahzad, who unleashed a sensational spell. Bangladesh's top order crumbled, unable to cope with the relentless attack, and they found themselves reeling at 26/6 by the 12th over. It seemed as though Pakistan would run through the visitors' batting lineup, potentially enforcing a follow-on and taking a commanding position in the match.
A warm good morning to all our readers around the world. As Day 4 of this riveting Test match dawns, the contest between Pakistan and Bangladesh remains finely balanced, promising another gripping chapter in this rollercoaster encounter. At stumps on Day 3, Pakistan found themselves in a precarious position at 9/2 in their second innings, holding a slender lead of just 21 runs. Bangladesh, after a remarkable comeback with the bat and a strong finish with the ball, will be eager to continue applying pressure on the hosts.
... DAY 4, FIRST SESSION ...
Bangladesh's win last week was their first in 14 attempts against Pakistan. The highlight of the day was Das and Mehidy's match-turning stand.
Saim Ayub was not out on six as the home team lead by 21 runs, and Pakistan will need to bat smartly to clinch a series-levelling win after losing the first Test, also in Rawalpindi, by 10 wickets.
At close on the third day, Bangladesh struck back to leave Pakistan on a sluggish 9-2, with opener Abdullah Shafique dismissed for three and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad falling without scoring -- both to pacer Hasan Mahmud.
The 29-year-old hit 138 over the course of a marathon 333 minutes and brought Bangladesh back into the match with a fighting 165-run seventh-wicket stand alongside Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who scored a pugnacious 78.
Liton Das hit a fighting hundred to lift Bangladesh from a precarious 26-6 to 262 all out on Sunday, in a remarkable turnaround that left the second Test in Rawalpindi within either team's grasp.
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the fourth day's action of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
Right then, with two days remaining in the Test, the game is poised on a knife's edge. Pakistan have a challenging task ahead if they are to secure a win and level the series. With scattered showers expected over the next two days, Shan Masood and the Pakistani think tank will need to carefully manage their time to ensure they can bowl Bangladesh out in the second innings. For Bangladesh, the focus will be on making the new ball count and putting early pressure on Pakistan on Day 4. We will be starting early on Day 4 as well, with the first ball set to be bowled at 4.45 am GMT. It's goodbye for now. Cheers!
Earlier in the day, Pakistan staged a remarkable turnaround as Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza dismantled the Bangladesh top 6 within the first 11 overs. With Bangladesh at a precarious 26/6, their record-lowest team total of 43 in Tests seemed under threat. However, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan staged a marathon recovery with a 165-run stand. Their partnership was brought to an end by Khurram Shahzad who went on to scalp another in his following over. Never before in the history of Test cricket had there been a 7th wicket partnership of 150 or more runs after the first 6 wickets had fallen for 30 runs or fewer. It was indeed a monumental effort from Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan.
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At the start of the third session, trailing by 81 runs with only two wickets remaining, Bangladesh's hopes hinged on Litton Das. He leveraged his experience while batting with Hasan Mahmud, and edged Bangladesh closer to parity with his 4th Test ton. As the new ball approached, he took on Agha Salman but fell in the process. Nahid Rana was unable to add to the score, leaving Bangladesh with 262 on the board and Pakistan holding a slender 12-run lead. The Test was left hanging in the balance as a one-inning shootout. Pakistan's openers faced a challenging 20-minute period to see out the remaining overs. Abdullah Shafique's difficult Test continued, and in the final over of the day, the nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad was dismissed by a stunning delivery from Hasan Mahmud, leaving Pakistan with 8 wickets in hand and a 21-run lead.
End of a fantastic day of Test cricket! This is why we love the format, don't we? The dramatic ebbs and flows have kept us on the edge of our seats, and it continues to deliver moments of pure excitement. While the first session went Pakistan's way, the next couple of sessions saw a fight back from Bangladesh, leaving the Test delicately poised at the end of Day 3.
Hasan Mahmud to Khurram Shahzad, OUT! TIMBER! Hasan Mahmud gets the wicket of the night watchman Khurram Shahzad and the umpires call it a day. Good length delivery angling into the off-stump line and then straightens off the deck. Khurram Shahzad stays on the crease with no foot movement and is all squared up getting beaten on the outside edge of the bat as he tries to defend with a straight bat. The ball goes on to hit the top of the off stump and Day 3 of the Test match comes to an end with Pakistan at 9/2 with the lead of 21 runs.
Hasan Mahmud to Saim Ayub, On the pads, fuller on the stumps. Saim Ayub flicks it to deep square leg and crosses over for a single.
Hasan Mahmud to Saim Ayub, Saim Ayub is very late on that one to fend it off. Hasan Mahmud swings it into the off stump, on a good length. Saim Ayub looks to leave it at first but manages to dab it in front of point.
Hasan Mahmud to Saim Ayub, Swings it into the left-hander, fuller on the off stump. Saim Ayub taps it back to the bowler off the front foot.
Score after
4
overs
8 - 1
- Khurram Shahzad 0 (5)
- Saim Ayub 5 (3)
Taskin Ahmed to Khurram Shahzad, Swings one away from the batter outside the off stump. Khurram Shahzad is not interested in playing at it.
Taskin Ahmed to Khurram Shahzad, Further fuller on the off stump. Khurram Shahzad takes the front foot out and knocks it off well towards cover.
Taskin Ahmed to Khurram Shahzad, Drops the length back on the stumps with the slip cordon waiting. Khurram Shahzad taps it down on the crease. Shahzad wants to sneak in a quick single but gets sent back by Saim Ayub.
Taskin Ahmed to Khurram Shahzad, Hits the length outside the off stump line and Khurram Shahzad lets it go through well.
Taskin Ahmed to Saim Ayub, Fuller on the stumps. Saim Ayub looks to defend the ball angling into him but this goes away slightly to catch an outside edge and it rolls wide of point for a single.
Taskin Ahmed to Saim Ayub, Beautiful shape back into the left-hander, just outside the off stump. Saim Ayub covers the stumps well and leaves the ball through, judging the bounce well.
Score after
3
overs
7 - 1
- Khurram Shahzad 0 (1)
- Saim Ayub 4 (1)
Hasan Mahmud to Khurram Shahzad, A good outswinger outside the off stump, on a length to end the over from Hasan Mahmud. Khurram Shahzad lets the ball go through.
Khurram Shahzad comes in as the night watchman with just under 10 minutes left in the day.
Hasan Mahmud to Abdullah Shafique, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Litton Das grabs an easy catch and Bangladesh players go up in joy! Hasan Mahmud gets the first breakthrough and sends back the struggling Abdullah Shafique. Swings the ball away from the right-hander this time and Abdullah Shafique stays on the crease and pokes at the delivery away from his body, getting an outside edge behind to the keeper, Litton Das who does the rest.
Hasan Mahmud to Abdullah Shafique, Big swing into the batter, fuller on the stumps, and Abdullah Shafique gets a thick inside edge to the right of square leg for a couple of runs more as he tries to push at the ball.
Hasan Mahmud to Abdullah Shafique, Swings the ball away from the right-hander this time outside the off stump line. Abdullah Shafique sees it through to the keeper.
Hasan Mahmud to Abdullah Shafique, Gets the ball to nip back into the right-hander from a good length on top of the leg stump. Abdullah Shafique walks across to clip it away but misses and gets a hit on the thigh pad.
Hasan Mahmud to Abdullah Shafique, On the good length on top of the off stump line. Abdullah Shafique takes the front foot out and blocks it off.
Who will operate from the other end? It will be Hasan Mahmud.
- Saim Ayub 4 (1)
- Abdullah Shafique 1 (5)
Taskin Ahmed to Saim Ayub, FOUR! Saim Ayub gets off the mark with a poor delivery on the pads from Taskin Ahmed. Saim flicks the inswinging ball and uses the pace on it to find a boundary to the left of the diving fine leg fielder.
Taskin Ahmed to Abdullah Shafique, Fuller on the off stump line. Abdullah Shafique taps it to the right of point and gets off the mark for the first time in this Test match.
Taskin Ahmed to Abdullah Shafique, Beautiful delivery! The ball lands on the seam and zips away from a good length on top of the off stump. Abdullah Shafique looks to play it but is comprehensively beaten on the outside edge.
Taskin Ahmed to Abdullah Shafique, Lovely! Closes in on the off stump line with a hint of swing. Abdullah Shafique covers his off stump and lets the ball go through.
Taskin Ahmed to Abdullah Shafique, Holds the length back on top of the stumps. Abdullah Shafique stays on the crease and fends it off.
Taskin Ahmed to Abdullah Shafique, Starts off on the good length right on top of the off stump from over the wicket. Abdullah Shafique takes the front foot out and blocks it off.
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