Bangladesh sets mammoth 437-run target as Pakistan faces day 4 survival test
By Nawaz Gohar ; Pakistan’s opening pair safely navigated a tense two-over micro-session before bad light forced an early stumps on Day 3, leaving the visitors with a monumental mountain to climb at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a record-shattering target of 437, Pakistan finished the day unscathed at 0/0, with Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais set to resume the daunting rearguard action on Tuesday morning.
The story of the day, however, belonged entirely to Bangladesh’s veteran linchpin, Mushfiqur Rahim. Resuming the second innings with a slim 46-run cushion, the hosts converted their advantage into total dominance, racking up a massive 390 runs in 102.2 overs.
Mushfiqur anchored the innings with a brilliant, career-defining 137 off 233 deliveries—notching a record-breaking 14th Test century, the most by any Bangladeshi batter. He found able support in middle-order maestro Litton Das, who followed up his majestic first-innings rescue act of 126 with a fluent 69.
Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy also chipped in with a vital 52, while a gritty lower-order partnership of 77 between Mushfiqur and Taijul Islam (22) effectively batted Pakistan out of the contest.
Pakistan’s bowling attack toiled hard on a flattening surface. Right-arm pacer Khurram Shahzad was once again the standout performer, repeating his first-innings heroics to claim figures of 4/86, taking his match tally to an impressive eight wickets.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan wrapped up the tail to finish with 3/86, while Hasan Ali and Mohammad Abbas picked up two and one wickets respectively.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh recovered from a precarious 116/6 to post 278 in their first essay, courtesy of Litton Das’ counter-attacking century.
In reply, Pakistan’s batting unit crumbled for a meager 232 despite a fighting 68 from former captain Babar Azam and a brisk 38 from Sajid Khan. Pace sensation Nahid Rana and orthodox spinner Taijul Islam did the damage for the hosts, snaring three scalps each to secure the crucial 46-run first-innings lead.
With two full days of play remaining, the equation is clear but incredibly steep. Pakistan requires another 437 runs on a wearing Day 4 and 5 track, while a confident Bangladesh side sits just ten wickets away from clinching a historic, comprehensive Test match victory.
