Mushfiqur Rahim’s ton puts Bangladesh in commanding position

By Alam Zeb Safi
SYLHET, Bangladesh: A masterclass century from veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim propelled Bangladesh into a dominant position, setting Pakistan a herculean 437-run target on the third day of the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Mushfiqur anchored the home team’s second innings with an authoritative 137 off 233 deliveries, achieving his 14th Test century in his 102nd appearance, becoming leading batsman to score more centuries in Test cricket for Bangladesh. Bangladesh, resuming the day at 110 for three, were eventually bowled out for 390 in their second innings right before the close of play.
Pakistan negotiated two tricky overs before bad light forced stumps. The visitors now face a daunting task to survive two full days or score 437 runs to prevent Bangladesh from securing a series victory.
Bangladesh started the day with a slim psychological advantage after securing a 46-run lead in the first innings, having bowled Pakistan out for 232. While captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell early in the morning session, it triggered a relentless counter-offensive from the middle order.
Litton Das joined Mushfiqur to completely deflate the Pakistani bowling attack. The pair raised a brisk partnership, with Litton punishing loose deliveries on his way to an elegant 69 before top-edging a short ball from Hasan Ali to deep third man.
Mushfiqur remained unbothered, steering the lower order astutely. He reached his milestone with a boundary steered through gully off Mohammad Abbas, celebrating passionately in front of an ecstatic home crowd. He built valuable late partnerships, including a 77-run stand with Taijul Islam (22), pushing Bangladesh’s lead beyond the 400-run threshold.
Speedster Khurram Shahzad was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, battling hard to register figures of 4-86 across a demanding, flat surface, finishing with eight wickets in the match. Spin-bowler Sajid Khan cleaned up the tail, accounting for Taijul and eventually removing Mushfiqur via a mistimed slog-sweep to finish with 3-126.
With darkness setting in rapidly over Sylhet, Bangladesh’s pacers opened with sharp lines. However, Awais and Fazal showed solid defensive discipline across 12 deliveries to ensure Pakistan did not bleed early wickets under the floodlights.
Pakistan’s batting lineup, which folded cheaply in the first innings, except for Babar Azam’s resilient 68, must produce a historic fourth-innings batting performance to salvage the match.
SCORECARD (At Stumps, Day 3)
Bangladesh 1st Innings: 278 all out (77 overs), Litton Das 126, Tanzid Hasan 26; Mohammad Abbas 3-x, Khurram Shahzad 4-81, Mohammad Abbas 3-45; Pakistan 1st Innings: 232 all out (48.4 overs) Babar Azam 68; Nahid Rana 3-60, Taijul Islam 3-67;
Bangladesh 2nd Innings (Overnight 110/3)
Batsman Dismissal Runs Balls 4s 6s
Mahmudul Hasan Joy 50 – – –
Tanzid Hasan – – – –
Mominul Haque 30 – – –
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c) c †Rizwan b Abbas 13 32 – –
Mushfiqur Rahim c Abbas b Sajid Khan 137 233 – –
Litton Das (wk) c Shakeel b Hasan Ali 69 – – –
Taijul Islam b Sajid Khan 22 – – –
Extras (b, lb, w, nb) 19
TOTAL All Out (102.2 overs) 390
Bowing
Khurram Shahzad 4-86
Sajid Khan 3-126
PAKISTAN 2nd Innings (Target: 437 runs)
Abdullah Fazal not out 0 6 0 0
Azan Awais not out 0 6 0 0
TOTAL 0 Wickets (2 overs) 0
To Bat: Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Khurram Shahzad, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.
Bowling
Shoriful Islam 1 1 0 0
Taskin Ahmed / Nahid Rana 1 1 0 0