Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque struck determined half-centuries as Bangladesh strengthened their grip on the opening Test against Pakistan on a rain-affected fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.
Persistent rain wiped out the entire second session, halting play for three and a half hours, but the hosts made steady progress whenever action was possible. At stumps, Bangladesh were 152 for 3 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 179 runs with a full day remaining.
Resuming on seven without loss, Bangladesh suffered early blows in the morning session. Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy was trapped leg-before by Mohammad Abbas for five, while Hasan Ali removed Shadman Islam for 10 after Saud Shakeel held a sharp catch at gully. The hosts slipped to 23 for 2, bringing Shanto and Mominul together once again in a crucial phase.
The pair responded with composure and patience, adding 105 runs for the third wicket to wrest back control. Their partnership mirrored their first-innings effort, when they had combined for a 170-run stand after Bangladesh were reduced to 31 for 2.
Mominul, who had scored 91 in the first innings, continued his fine run of form with 56, registering his fifth successive fifty-plus score. He survived a couple of close chances before eventually edging a delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi behind the stumps.
Shanto, fresh from a fluent century in the first innings, remained solid at the crease. The skipper brought up his sixth Test half-century off 90 balls and stayed unbeaten on 58 at the close. He found support from Mushfiqur Rahim, who was batting on 16 when bad light forced an early end to the day’s play.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh posted 413 in their first innings. Pakistan replied with 386, conceding a 27-run lead, thanks largely to off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s five-wicket haul.
With a lead nearing 200 and seven wickets in hand, Bangladesh will look to accelerate on the final day and set Pakistan a challenging target in pursuit of a series-opening victory.