Bangladesh are in vantage position to win the first Test of the two-match series against the West Indies as the visitors require 285 more runs to win with seven wickets in hand on the fifth and final day at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the port city.
Bangladesh declared on 223/8, thanks to the record-breaking century of skipper Mominul Haque, to set a target of 395 for the Caribbean side.
In reply, the Windies ended the day on 110/3.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who scored a century and picked up four wickets in the first innings, got all three second innings wickets so far.
The West Indies need to break the record in order to win the match as the highest successful chase in the fourth innings on Bangladesh soil is 317.
New Zealand set the record on October 21, 2008, when Daniel Vettori-led side beat the hosts by three wickets on the final day at ZACS.
On the fourth and penultimate day of the ongoing match, the pitch was still playing good but one or two balls started to behave oddly as Shayne Moseley, who batted one down, was adjudged leg before for 15 to a delivery that almost rolled through the pitch.
Mominul Haque en route to his 10th Test ton, and seven at ZACS AFP
However, debutant Kyle Mayers finished the day on a positive note for the Windies as he remained not out on 37 off 50 balls with the aid of seven fours.
He got good support from Nkrumah Bonner, who was unbeaten on 15 off 63, as the pair added 51 on the tricky fourth evening.
Miraz also got rid of opener John Campbell through leg-before to give his side the first breakthrough.
The opening pair of captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Campbell looked comfortable before the latter tried to sweep a straight delivery, the first ball of the 17th over, that missed the bat and hit his leg.
Bangladesh needed a fielding brilliance to dismiss Brathwaite, the most experienced batsman of his side, as Yasir Ali, the well-built substitute fielder, held an outstanding low-catch at short leg.
Brathwaite scored 20.
Earlier in the day, Mominul became the first Bangladeshi to score 10 centuries in Tests, surpassing Tamim Iqbal’s nine.
Liton Das, who made a well-crafted 69, shared 133 runs for the fifth wicket with Mominul to allay early fears AFP
Mominul also reached the 3,000-run mark in Tests as the fifth Bangladeshi when he was on 114 before getting out for 115.
Mominul and Liton Das built a 133-run partnership, the only century stand so far in the match, to take the lead close to 400.
Mominul, who has scored all 10 centuries at home, including an incredible seven at ZACS, reached the landmark on 173 balls before ultimately getting caught in the deep mid-wicket boundary by Kemar Roach off pacer Shannon Gabriel while trying to accelerate the run-rate.
The diminutive man struck 10 fours in his 182-ball innings.
Liton also played a crucial knock as he scored 69 off 112 balls with five boundaries after he had arrived to the crease following the early morning dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim.
The overnight not out batsman Mushfiq was adjudged leg before off off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall for 18.
As injured Shakib al Hasan is unlikely to take further part in the match, the hosts were a little anxious with a lead of under 250 at that stage, but Liton eased things with his well-crafted innings before he was caught by Mayers at backward point off the bowling of Jomel Warrican while trying to reverse sweep.
But by then, Bangladesh were already in a good position and with a few breakthroughs in the last session, they will look forward to seal the match as quickly as possible on the final day to register their first points in the World Test Championship.
1ST TEST, DAY 4
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS 430 IN 150.2 OVERS (Miraz 103, Warrican 4/133)
WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS 259 IN 96.1 OVERS (Brathwaite 76, Miraz 4/58)
BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS OVERNIGHT 47/3 IN 20 OVERS R B
Mominul c Roach b Gabriel 115 182
Mushfiq lbw b Cornwall 18 48
Liton c Mayers b Warrican 69 112
Miraz b Warrican 7 11
Taijul b Warrican 3 9
Nayeem not out 1 1
Extras (nb 4, w 1) 5
Total (67.5 Ov, RR: 3.28) 223/8d
Fall Of Wickets
4-73 (Mushfiq), 5-206 (Liton), 6-214 (Mominul), 7-222 (Taijul), 8-223 (Miraz)
Bowling
Roach 7-1-17-0, Cornwall 27-2-81-3, Gabriel 12-0-37-2, Warrican 17.5-0-57-3, Bonner 2-0-13-0, Brathwaite 1-0-7-0, Mayers 1-0-11-0
WEST INDIES 2ND INNINGS R B
Brathwaite c sub (Yasir) b Miraz 20 53
Campbell lbw b Miraz 23 50
Moseley lbw b Miraz 12 24
Bonner not out 15 63
Mayers not out 37 50
Extras (b 1, lb 2) 3
Total (40 Ov, RR: 2.75) 110/3
Fall Of Wickets
1-39 (Campbell), 2-48 (Brathwaite), 3-59 (Moseley)
Bowling
Mustafizur 4-1-14-0, Taijul 13-8-12-0, Miraz 16-2-52-3, Nayeem 7-1-29-0
West Indies trail by 285 runs
