Bangladesh-Pakistan Test evenly poised after Mehidy takes 5 wickets

Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed five wickets to give Bangladesh a slender lead after Pakistan debutant Azan Awais hit 103 on a rain-hit third day of the first Test on Sunday.

Pakistan made 386 all out in response to Bangladesh's first innings total of 413 in Dhaka.

Bangladesh closed the day on 7-0 in their second innings to increase their lead to 34 runs, after bad light ended play with Mahmudul Hasan Joy unbeaten on two and Shadman Islam yet to score.

The left-handed Azan, who resumed on 85, completed his hundred off 153 balls to become the 14th Pakistani and sixth player overall to score a century on debut against Bangladesh.

He became pace bowler Taskin Ahmed's 50th Test wicket after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto caught the opener at slip.

"It's a very blessed feeling for me because I know it's my debut match and I performed really well for my country," a visibly moved Azan said.

"When I was going in to bat I was a little nervous, but I performed very well for my team."

Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals but kept coming back as Abdullah Fazal, another debutant, scored 60, Salman Agha made 58 and Mohammad Rizwan chipped in with 59.

Rizwan and Agha made 119 for the sixth wicket, one of three century partnerships for the visitors, before rain wiped out a large portion of the afternoon session.

The pitch offered more assistance to the spinners when play resumed and Mehidy exploited the conditions to perfection, with Pakistan bowled out in 100.3 overs.

Mehidy, who bowled 38 overs of his off-spin, was rewarded for his patience.

"On a true wicket like this, as a spinner my mindset is that I will not get help from the pitch in the first three days," Miraz said.

"If I bowl in good areas and the batter makes a mistake, then I have a chance of taking wickets. My job was to make sure I did not concede runs from one end."

"In the second innings I will come as an attacking bowler when the ball is turning," he said.

Pakistan were bowled out for 386 in their first innings on the third day of the Dhaka Test against Bangladesh, conceding a narrow 27-run lead after the hosts had earlier posted 413, 24NewsHD TV reported on Sunday.

Bad light forces an early end to play as Bangladesh reached 7-0 in the second innings without any loss.

Resuming the day at 179 for one, Pakistan looked well placed as overnight batter Azan Awais continued his impressive knock alongside Abdullah Fazal.

Awais, playing his debut Test, brought up a memorable century before being dismissed for 103 in the morning session.

The left-hander struck 14 boundaries in his 153-ball innings and became the 14th Pakistani batter to score a century on Test debut.

Abdullah Fazal also impressed in his maiden Test appearance, scoring 60 and registering a debut half-century before Pakistan slipped into trouble.

Pakistan lost momentum after the dismissal of Awais, with captain Shan Masood falling cheaply for nine at 226.

Saud Shakeel was dismissed for a duck in the next over, leaving Pakistan struggling at 227 for four.

Abdullah Fazal departed soon after with the score on 230, reducing Pakistan to five wickets down.

Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan then steadied the innings with fighting knocks of 58 and 59 respectively, helping Pakistan avoid a bigger deficit.

However, Bangladesh bowlers wrapped up the innings for 386, securing a slender first-innings advantage.

When Pakistan had made 349 runs for the loss of six wickets in their first innings, the weather interruption halted proceedings briefly.

 For Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan starred with the ball, taking five wickets, while Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed claimed two wickets each.

Earlier, Bangladesh had scored 413 in their first innings, led by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 101, Mominul Haque’s 91, and Mushfiqur Rahim’s 71.

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas claimed five wickets in Bangladesh’s innings, while Shaheen Shah Afridi took three. Nauman Ali and Hasan Ali picked up one wicket apiece.