Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana combined to pick up nine wickets as Bangladesh took a big stride in their quest towards a 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan on the fourth day of the second Test in Rawalpindi.
Hasan Mahmud, who picked two wickets at the fag end of the third day, added three more to his tally on the fourth afternoon to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with 5 for 43 in 10.4 overs in his third Test. Nahid Rana also registered his best Test figures – 4 for 44 – as Pakistan were bowled out for 172 in their second innings, setting up a target of 185. With Taskin Ahmed taking the other wicket, this was the first time in Bangladesh’s Test history that all ten wickets were picked up by fast bowlers.
Day 4 : Morning Session : Nahid Rana rattles Pakistan with three wickets
Bangladesh pressed on after making a strong comeback from doldrums on Day 3 by rattling Pakistan on the fourth morning. The hosts, who began the day on 9/2, lost four more wickets before being dragged to Lunch break on 117/6 by Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistan scored 108 runs at more than 4 runs an over in the first session but also lost four wickets to put Bangladesh at the wheel of the Test.
Pakistan had a dreadful end to the third day where they lost two early wickets but the overnight batters Saim Ayub and Shan Masood flew off the blocks on Day 4, picking up early boundaries with ease. It took a blinder of a catch from Nazmul Hossain Shanto at covers to put a halt to Pakistan’s early control of the proceedings. With that catch, Ayub was sent packing after which Nahid Rana made three quick dents.
First to go was the Pakistan captain Masood, who chased a length delivery outside the off-stump and nicked it behind to the ‘keeper Litton Das. Babar Azam’s woeful run in Tests since the start of 2023 extended to yet another innings as he fell for just 11. The former captain pushed a back of a length ball away from his body and was caught by Shadman Islam at first slip.
Bangladesh should’ve had Rizwan on the first ball as Rana got some extra bounce to surprise the keeper-batter, who too nicked towards slips. But this time, Islam fluffed the opportunity. There was still a spring to the steps of Rana, as he bowled a fiery spell that included a bouncer that struck Rizwan on the helmet and prompted a mandatory concussion check for the batter. In the same over, Rana went round the stumps to the left-handed Saud Shakeel and got him to edge behind to Litton.
From 81/6, Rizwan took centerstage to ensure there was no further damage before the lunch break. He and Salman Agha batted out the last nine overs of the session, taking Pakistan’s lead to 129 runs.
Resuming on 9 for 2 with a lead of 21, it was shaping up to be a good morning for Pakistan, with Shan Masood and Saim Ayub looking positive. Masood began by punching Taskin down the ground before Ayub clipped the pace bowler off his pads. There were a few plays and misses, and tight leaves, but the duo largely looked untroubled as they collected 34 runs in the first 6.2 overs of the day.
But soon after that came a loose drive from Ayub and Bangladesh came galloping back. Taskin bowled one full outside off stump and Ayub went for a drive on the up only to find Najmul Hossain Shanto at mid-off. Babar Azam started with a cracking a square cut off Taskin but was far from his usual self. He missed a straight ball from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and was hit on the pad. Bangladesh reviewed the on-field decision of not out, but replays suggested the ball was missing the leg stump.
Nahid was brought into the attack in the 17th over, and it took him all of three balls to strike. He sent back Masood, whose half-hearted attempt at a drive only found the outside edge for a simple catch to the wicketkeeper. Nahid then had Babar edging to first slip with a good-length ball that bounced a touch more than what the batter expected. He should have dismissed Mohammad Rizwan first ball but Shadman, who had taken a catch the previous delivery, spilled an almost identical chance.
Even when he was not taking wickets, Nahid caused plenty of trouble. He consistently bowled over 140kph and generated awkward bounce with his high-arm action. He threatened both edges and even hit Rizwan on the helmet with a nasty bouncer. Rizwan, visibly shaken, called the physio a few times but carried on.
Nahid picked up his third wicket when Saud Shakeel hung his bat out, offering a simple catch to Litton Das as Pakistan slipped from 47 for 2 to 81 for 6. Rizwan and Salman Agha, though, made sure Pakistan did not lose another wicket till lunch while extending the lead to 129.
Day 4 : Post Lunch Session : Hasan Mahmud picks five as Bangladesh eye series win
Bangladesh pace duo Hasan Mahmud picked a fifer while Nahid Rana snared four as Pakistan were bowled out for just 174 in the post-Lunch period on Day 4 in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh, chasing just 185 for a historic 2-0 series win, made a brisk start through openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam to close out the second session. Just one over of play in the final session was possible before bad light and rain brought an early end to Day 4.
Pakistan began the second session with their backs to the wall already as they’d lost four wickets to pace in the morning period. Rana had forced poor decision making from three Pakistan batters – Shan Masood, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel – before Lunch that left them six down with Mohammad Rizwan having to mop up the mess.
First to go was the Pakistan captain Masood, who chased a length delivery outside the off-stump and nicked it behind to the keeper Litton Das. Babar’s woeful run in Tests since the start of 2023 extended to yet another innings as he fell for just 11. The former captain pushed a back of a length ball away from his body and was caught by Shadman Islam at first slip.
Rizwan too found life difficult early on, and even copped a bouncer on his helmet. In the same over, Rana went round the stumps to the left-handed Saud Shakeel and got him to edge behind to Litton. Rizwan and Agha Salman rode out the last nine overs of the morning session.
The resistance from the pair lasted only for six and a half overs in the second session when Rizwan too was guilty of playing a poor shot, chasing after a ball from Mahmud that was pitched outside off and moving further away. Litton Das completed a simple catch behind. Mahmud sent Mohammad Ali packing on the very next ball, once again inducing an outside edge. This one flew to Najmul Hossain at second slip.
Pakistan were eight down and grey overheads began to loom. While Salman attempted to stretch the lead, Abrar Ahmed hung around for six overs before Rana came back to bounce out the tailender. Abrar attempted to back away but ended up poking at the rising delivery and hitting it to Najmul at first slip. No. 11 batter Mir Hamza stayed on while Salman pushed for quick runs, but that only went on for five more overs. Mahmud put an end to it with the wicket of Hamza, completing his fifer in the process.
Bangladesh openers then saw off a short period of play unscathed, until the Tea break. Zakir was the more proactive of the two batters, flicking and pulling Khurram Shahzad for two sixes. The pacer kept angling the ball into the left-hander from round the stumps and was repeatedly punished. When the Tea break came, Bangladesh were 37/0 in just 6 overs. They pushed it to 42/0 in the only over bowled after the break.
With majority of the final session lost on Day 4, Bangladesh now have three sessions on the final day to get the remaining 143 runs and secure the series sweep.
With Rizwan still feeling fuzzy and looking for quick runs, Bangladesh stuck to their plan, making sure there were no easy runs. Hasan Mahmud, who wasn’t as incisive in the first session, stuck to the channel outside off stump. That brought about a false shot from Rizwan, playing away from his body and getting a thin edge to the wicketkeeper. The very next ball, Hasan Mahmud had Mohammad Ali edging to first slip.
While the hat-trick was averted, Abrar Ahmed lasted only 12 balls and became Rana’s fourth victim with the scoreboard reading 145 for 9. But a swift end to the innings was delayed by Agha, who added vital runs with the lower order for the second time in the match. He stitched a 27-run stand with Mir Hamza before Mahmud claimed his fifth wicket. It came via an inside edge onto the pad with the ball lobbing to Mehidy at second slip. Hasan Mahmud bowed to the turf before leading the team off the field with the ball raised high.
Pakistan needed early wickets but their hopes were quashed by Zakir, who was on the move early. He was aggressive with his footwork, often charging at the bowlers early. He clipped Khurram Shahzad for a six over long leg before pulling him for another six, this time over deep-backward square leg as Bangladesh moved 37 for no loss in six overs at tea. Only one over was possible after the break before it got too dark for play to continue.
Road Ahead for Pakistan and Bangladesh on Day 5
The umpires decide to call Stumps early on Day 4. The ground and the weather conditions weren’t likely to improve, so we end this day early. The Test match is very well poised, Bangladesh hold the ascendancy for now. They came out on the prowl today morning, picking up the remaining eight wickets in a session and a half. Nahid Rana terrorized the batters with his pace and bounce, while Hasan Mahmud bowled consistently to pick up a fifer.
The entire Pakistani middle order was out chasing at wide ones, and had it not been for a late cameo from Salman Agha, they could have been bundled out for a lot less than 172. In response, Zakir Hasan of Bangladesh came out with a positive intent, smacking two sixes off his legs in the first six overs.
The visitors are 143 runs away from victory, and they will be battling a combination of the Pakistani bowlers and weather if they are to claim a whitewash in this series. Pakistan aren’t yet out of this, remember they reduced Bangladesh at 26/6 at one stage in the first innings. So a fiery start to the morning and this could be anyone’s game come Day 5.