Bangladesh have the unenviable task of chasing down a record 550 for victory when they resume the fourth and penultimate day’s play today in the deciding Test against Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
In their pursuit of an improbable target, the home side have already lost opener Imrul Kayes as they finished the third day’s proceedings yesterday on 63/1, requiring a further 487 runs for victory.
Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque, unbeaten on 32 and 15 respectively, will spearhead the Tigers’ challenge today. Their previous highest successful run-chase was 217 against the West Indies in St. George’s six years ago so the hosts need to bat out of their skins if they are to draw the Test match, let alone making a fist out of the chase.
Earlier on the day, Bangladesh, resuming on 107/5, added a further 96 runs before losing their remaining four wickets. Right-arm paceman Shahadat Hossain was unable to bat.
Shakib al Hasan led the way with an undefeated 91-ball 89 as wickets tumbled at the other end. He eventually ran out of partners and was stranded just 11 runs away from his fourth Test hundred.
Left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz bowled a fiery spell to dismiss Soumya Sarkar for three and Shuvagata Hom for a duck. Shakib, alongside Mohammad Shahid, added 63 runs for the ninth wicket to lend some respectability to the Tigers’ first innings total.
Wahab and Yasir Shah bagged three wickets apiece while left-arm paceman Junaid Khan picked up two as the Tigers fell short of the follow-on mark. Many thought skipper Misbah-ul Haq would enforce the follow-on but to everyone’s surprise, Pakistan came out to bat again.
Pakistan stretched their lead to 549, declaring their second innings on 195/6. Misbah top-scored with a fine 82 from 72 balls.
Right-arm paceman Shahid scalped two wickets while Taijul Islam, Shuvagata, Mahmudullah and Soumya all took one each.
