DHAKA: Bangladesh moved ahead of Pakistan after securing a 27-run first innings lead on the third day of the first cricket Test in Mirpur on Saturday.

Resuming at 179 for one in reply to Bangladesh’s 413, Pakistan slipped from 201 for one to 230 for five before being bowled out for 386. Salman Ali Agha, who was given a reprieve on nought when he was caught off a no-ball, and Mohammad Rizwan added 119 runs for the sixth wicket to lift Pakistan from the depths of despair and keep their side in the match.

When play ended early due to fading light, Bangladesh had scored seven for no wicket in their second innings to lead by 34 runs.

Pakistan’s innings was anchored by a century on debut from Azan Awais and half-centuries from Abdullah Fazal, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan.

For Bangladesh, off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz stole the show with figures of 38-5-102-5 — the 14th time he had taken five wickets in a Test innings. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and fast bowler Taskin Ahmed bagged two wickets each, while Nahid Rana bowled with pace and venom despite managing just one wicket, that of Salman.

Bangladesh’s bowlers stuck to their limitations, maintained a tight line and length, and suffocated the Pakistan batters. The ploy worked, as Pakistan’s batters attempted to force the pace and lost their wickets in the process.

Azan was caught at slip attempting a casual drive, Shan Masood was snapped at short point driving from his crease, Saud Shakeel attempted a premeditated sweep and television replays confirmed the ball would have struck middle stump, Abdullah Fazal tried to break the shackles and was caught at mid-on, Mohammad Rizwan attempted a big shot and was caught at mid-off, while Salman Ali Agha showed no footwork and was caught behind.

This lack of application — including from batters who were well set after completing all the hard work — demonstrated the squad’s limited experience of red-ball cricket and their collective inability to translate solid starts into match-defining scores.

Azan, who had started the day on 85, was dismissed after scoring 103, becoming the 14th Pakistan batter and the first since Kamran Ghulam in October 2024 to score a century on debut. His 165-ball innings included 14 fours.

Abdullah Fazal, who resumed on 37, was dismissed for 60 off 120 balls with seven fours and a six.

Rizwan and Salman steadied the innings at a critical juncture when Pakistan were wobbling at 230 for five. Rizwan was out for 59 off 79 balls with eight fours, while Salman, who was caught behind off a Taskin no-ball before he had opened his account, followed four runs later for 58 off 94 balls with six fours and a six.

Later in the innings, Shaheen Shah Afridi survived a barrage of short-pitched bowling from Nahid Rana before becoming Mehidy’s fifth victim, scoring 13 from 17 balls. This sets up an exciting show when Navid comes out to bat in the second innings.

Mehidy, who had removed Imam-ul-Haq on the second day, also accounted for Saud Shakeel (0), Abdullah Fazal and Noman Ali. Taijul Islam removed Rizwan and Hasan Ali, Taskin Ahmed dismissed Azan and Shan Masood (9), while Nahid had the better of Salman.

With Bangladesh leading by 34 runs, an absorbing and potentially match-defining fourth day lies ahead. The pitch has not yet shown any demons, but natural wear and tear will come into play as Pakistan are set to bat fourth. With Bangladesh’s spinners stamping their authority on the third day, Pakistan’s batters will want to chase as few runs as possible — which brings the focus firmly on their bowlers, especially Noman Ali.

Scores in brief:

 

1st Test, Mirpur – day three of five. Toss: Pakistan

BANGLADESH (1st innings) 413 all-out, 117.1 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 101, Mominul Haque 91, Mushfiqur Rahim 71, Littan Das 33, Taskin Ahmed 28; Mohammad Abbas 5-92, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-113) and 7-0

PAKISTAN (overnight 179-1, 46 overs) 386 all-out, 100.3 overs (Azan Awais 103, Abdullah Fazal 60, Mohammad Rizwan 59, Salman Ali Agha 58, Shaheen Shah Afridi 13; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-102, Taijul Islam 2-46, Taskin Ahmed 2-70)