Dhaka – Bangladesh’s hope of finishing the third day of the Rawalpindi Test on a high was dashed by Naseem Shah as his hat-trick took the momentum away from the visitors on Sunday.
Bangladesh limped to 126 for 6 in 45 overs and still need to score 86 runs to make Pakistan bat again.
Naseem etched his name in the record books by being the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket and the fourth Pakistani after Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Sami. Incidentally, only Wasim did it twice in his Test career.
Najmul Hossain Shanto was the first batter to be dismissed by Naseem. Taijul Islam, sent in to bat as a nightwatchman was lbw in the next ball. Mahmudullah Riyad completed the hat-trick when his loose drive to a full and wide ball only managed a thick edge to first slip.
Having lost only two wickets for 124 runs, Bangladesh looked quite sure of erasing the first innings deficit but the hat-trick drastically changed the complexion of the match. To make matters worse for the visitors, Mohammad Mithun was sent back for a duck with his team reeling at 126 for 6.
Bangladesh started the day on a positive note taking four wickets in the first session and did not allow Pakistan to dominate the proceedings.
However, the loss of four wickets in quick succession undid the good work done earlier and now Bangladesh face long odds to save this match.
Naseem bagged four wickets conceding 26 runs in 8.2 overs while Yasir Shah took the other two wickets.
Earlier, in reply of Bangladesh’s moderate total of 233, Pakistan posted 445 riding on centuries from Shan Masood (100) and Babar Azam (143). Asad Shafiq and Haris Sohail struck 65 and 75 respectively.
Rubel Hossain took 3 wickets for 113 runs in 25.5 overs while Abu Jayed was the pick of the bowlers with three for 86 in 29 overs. Taijul took two while Ebadot Hossain picked a wicket to show for his efforts.
Pakistan won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat first. The Tigers failed to come up with a good start as both of the openers were removed inside the first two overs of the game.
Five of the Bangladeshi batsmen passed the 25-run mark in their first innings but failed to provide with the big partnerships to post a challenging total on the board. Mohammad Mithun was the highest runs scorer with 63.
Shaheen Afridi was the most successful bowler of the hosts in the first innings taking four wickets conceding 53 runs while Mohammad Abbas and Haris Sohail bagged two wickets each.
Brief score:
Bangladesh 1st innings: 233/10 in 82.5 overs, Mithun 63, Najmul 44, Liton 33, Mominul 30, Mahmudullah 25, Taijul 24; Shaheen 4/53, Haris 2/11, Abbas 2/19, Naseem 1/61
Pakistan 1st innings: 445/10 in 122.5 overs, Babar 143, Shan 100, Haris 75, Abu Jayed 3/86, Rubel 3/113
Bangladesh 2nd innings: 126/6 in 45 overs, Shanto 38, Mominul 37*, Tamim 34, Naseem 4/26, Yasir 2/33.UNB
