DHAKA: Off-spinner Sajid Khan struck immediately after Pakistan declared their first innings on 300-4 in the rain-hit second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, play was called off at 4.30pm, an hour before scheduled close. Conditions continued to remain murky all day. Yet, it was better than on the three previous days where heavy rain allowed just 63.2 overs to be bowled in the Test.
Sajid took the wickets of openers Mahmudul Hasan (0) and Shadman Islam (three) while skipper Mominul Haque was run out for one as Pakistan reduced Bangladesh to 22-3 by tea on the fourth day.
Mushfiqur Rahim was the next to go, one ball after surviving a close lbw call, as he tried to swing Sajid across the line with Fawad taking the catch at short midwicket. Then, Liton Das, sent ahead of Shakib Al Hasan, tried to attack Sajid but only hit one back to the bowler as Bangladesh slipped to 46 for 5.
Sajid then completed his five-for when he trapped Najmul Hossain Shanto for 30. Shanto couldn’t capitalise on his reprieves, first being dropped on 13 and later when he was caught behind off a Nauman Ali no-ball.
Shakib tried to bristle his way for runs, but Bangladesh kept losing wickets. Mehidy Hasan Miraz became Sajid’s sixth victim. Shakib and Taijul Islam then survived 5.2 overs before play was called off.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan and Fawad Alam each hit a fifty and shared 103 runs in an unbroken stand to put Pakistan in a strong position. Rizwan was on 53 off 94 balls while Fawad was on 50 facing 96 when skipper Babar Azam called back the two batsmen an hour into the post-lunch session.
Pakistan lost two quick wickets early in the day after yet another delayed start following day three’s complete wash-out at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Ebadot Hossain dismissed Azhar Ali for 56 runs in the second over of the day, while pacer Khaled Ahmed trapped Babar Azam leg-before for his maiden Test wicket.
Rizwan was given out twice, on zero and 12, off the bowling of Ebadot and Taijul Islam respectively, but on both occasions he survived on review.
Pakistan leads the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Chittagong by eight wickets. The visitors fielded an unchanged squad from the first Test while Bangladesh handed Mahmudul Hasan a Test debut and brought in Shakib and Khaled Ahmed in three changes to the team. Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali, and Abu Jayed were dropped from the opening Test.
