Bangladesh failed to keep the level of fight on the fourth day that put them on the brink of losing their first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the port city Monday.
Despite having a lead of 44 runs in the first innings the hosts could post only 157 on the board in the second innings before the visitors ended the day on 109 without loss, needing only 93 more runs to seal the deal on the final day.
Bangladesh were at one stage looked to be in a good position on 153/6 extending the lead to 197.
Another 60-70 runs with four wickets in hand could have given a difficult chase for the visitors but the hosts lost their last four wickets for just four runs leaving a rather easy target on a pitch that is not giving much support to the bowlers.
The target allowed Pakistan to approach victory with a relaxed manner and did not give the Bangladesh bowlers much to defend.
The chase for the visitors was further eased as both openers Abid Ali (56) and Abdullah Shafique (53) scored fifties with complete domination before umpires called the day early due to bad light.
Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was the chief destroyer in the Bangladesh innings with 5/32, his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests, while his new ball partner Hasan Ali got two and spinner Sajid Khan bagged three.
Bangladesh’s first innings centurion Liton Das continued his rich vein of form as he scored highest 59 while debutant Yasir Ali Chowdhury scored an impressive 36 before he was substituted for concussion.
Earlier in the day, resuming on 39/4 Bangladesh faced an early jolt as they lost experienced Mushfiqur Rahim in the very first over of the day.
Mushfiq, who resumed on 12, sent the first delivery of the day to the boundary between mid-on and mid-wicket but inexplicably left Hasan's delivery two balls later.
The good length ball was pitched just outside the off-stump and swung in a little but Mushfiq discounted the latter fact as he shouldered arm and saw his wickets disturbed amid the elation of Hasan and Pakistani fielders.
It looked a huge mountain to climb for the hosts as debutant Yasir struggled with Hasan’s swing in the first innings but the burly man showed his class as he played both the pacers and spinners with ease.
Pakistan wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan gave Liton a reprieve as he missed an easy stumping off left-arm spinner Nouman Ali but apart from that and an inside edge of Yasir off Hasan the duo looked confident in the crease.
But in the 30th over Yasir slightly misjudged a Shaheen delivery that did not bounce as much as he expected and the ball hit his helmet.
With just seven balls remaining before drinks, no concussion test was conducted at that point and Yasir played four more balls to score two singles off Sajid's next over.
Bangladesh team management however, decided to go for a CT scan after the batsman informed that he was not feeling well.
The scan did not find anything dangerous but Nurul Hasan was chosen as concussion substitute in place of Yasir for the precaution of the latter.
‘’The scan has found no collection and he is medically stable. However, as a precaution, he will be observed for 24 hours at the hospital,’’ said Bangladesh Cricket Board in a statement.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz joined Liton and scored 11 before he was trapped in front by a delivery of off-spinner Sajid Khan when he tried to steer it square from the back foot and missed it.
New batsman Nurul seemed to carry the fight well with Liton as he struck three boundaries and seemed to push his team towards a vantage position.
But a rush of blood not only caused his dismissal but also signaled the end of the Bangladesh innings.
Nurul wanted to loft a Sajid delivery back over the bowler but his half-hearted shot only reached long-on where Faheem Ashraf completed an easy catch.
That even seemed to distract Liton, who missed a Shaheen delivery from round the wicket, and was adjudged leg before.
Pakistan didn't require much time to wrap up the innings as Taijul Islam was stumped by Rizwan off Sajid and Abu Jayed Rahi was caught behind off Shaheen without adding anything to the total.