On the fourth day of the second Test at Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s batting faltered dramatically, resulting in the team being dismissed for 172 runs in their second innings. Pakistan’s total lead of 184 runs sets Bangladesh an easy target of 185 runs to win the match.
Pakistan began the day with a modest lead of 21 runs and eight wickets remaining. However, the team’s batting collapse started early, with Abdullah Shafiq scoring just 3 runs before his dismissal. Khurram Shahzad followed, out for a duck, while Saim Ayub contributed 20 runs. Shan Masood and Babar Azam added 28 and 11 runs respectively, but the middle order could not sustain the innings. Saud Shakeel and Muhammad Rizwan scored 2 and 43 runs respectively, while Muhammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed, and Mir Hamza made minimal contributions, with the latter scoring just 4 runs.
Salman Ali Agha was the lone bright spot in Pakistan’s second innings, remaining unbeaten with 47 runs, but his efforts were insufficient to prevent the collapse.
The third day saw a dramatic shift in momentum when Pakistan’s bowlers were initially overwhelmed by Bangladesh’s top order. Liton Das and Mehdi Hasan Miraz’s formidable partnership of 165 runs for the seventh wicket significantly bolstered Bangladesh’s innings. Liton Das scored an impressive 138 runs, while Mehdi Hasan contributed 78 runs. Despite their heroic efforts, Bangladesh fell short of a first-innings lead by just 12 runs, totaling 262 runs.
In response to the challenging conditions of the pitch, Liton Das remarked, “The wicket is not particularly conducive to batting. Initially, when six of our players were out for just 26 runs, there was considerable pressure. However, Mehdi Hasan Miraz batted with a positive mindset, which alleviated some of the pressure on our batting line-up.”
Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Khurram Shahzad with 6 wickets, and Mir Hamza and Salman Ali Agha with 2 wickets each, were instrumental in dismissing Bangladesh.
As the second innings concludes, Bangladesh now faces the daunting task of chasing down 185 runs to secure victory. The fifth day promises an exciting finish as both teams battle for supremacy in this gripping Test series.
