Mehidy Hasan delivered a decisive five-wicket performance to keep Bangladesh in front on Day 3 of the opening Test against Pakistan in Dhaka. Pakistan resumed on 179/1 and soon found momentum through Azan Awais, who went on to score a century. Yet Mehidy’s burst of wickets, backed by support from Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam, helped Bangladesh restrict the visitors to 386.
Quick facts
- Venue: Dhaka; Opening Test; Day 3
- Pakistan resumed: 179/1
- Key century: Azan Awais made 103
- Mehidy Hasan’s figures: 5/102
- Other wicket-takers: Taskin Ahmed (2 wickets) and Taijul Islam (2 wickets)
- Pakistan final score: 386 all out
- Tea and stoppage: rain caused nearly two hours lost; bad light ended Bangladesh’s second innings early
- Brief Scores: Bangladesh 413 (Shanto 101, Mominul 91; Mohammad Abbas 5-92); Pakistan 386 (Awais 103, Fazal 60, Rizwan 59, Salman Agha 58; Mehidy 5-102); Bangladesh lead by 34 runs
Pakistan’s afternoon began with Awais pushing the total forward, adding 15 runs to his overnight mark to reach his century. He didn’t have long at the crease, though, as Taskin Ahmed removed him shortly after the milestone. Taskin then struck again, getting Shan Masood out for nine, tightening the contest as Bangladesh sensed another opening.
In the first over after drinks, Mehidy Hasan started to turn the tide. He accounted for Saud Shakeel, who fell for a duck, and then continued the pressure with further damage a few overs later. Three overs after that, Mehidy removed Abdullah Fazal—one of Pakistan’s half-centurions—caught at mid-on, leaving the visitors at 230/5.
Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan steadied Pakistan with a 119-run partnership, with both batters reaching half-century territory. Just as things looked set for a late push, Taijul Islam broke the stand in the tenth over after the new ball, dismissing Rizwan and shifting the balance back toward Bangladesh.
After Rizwan’s departure, the match lost momentum to weather. Nearly two hours of play were wiped out by rain, forcing an early Tea break when the teams came back on. When action resumed, Agha fell next—out to Nahid Rana—before Mehidy completed his five-for as Pakistan slipped from 353/7 to 386 all out.
Second innings cut short
With the light fading, Bangladesh’s reply in the second innings lasted only 1.5 overs. Bad light then sent the players indoors again, and no further play was possible for the day.
The broader match picture still favours Bangladesh: after posting 413 earlier in the contest—led by Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 101 and Mominul Haque’s 91—Bangladesh carried a lead into Pakistan’s Day 3 push. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 386, with Awais top-scoring on 103, and Mehidy’s 5/102 anchoring the late wickets. Bangladesh thus held a 34-run advantage at the close of play.
