Rizwan, Shan, Salman fifties keep Pakistan in hunt of world record chase

Pakistan required another 121 runs to overhaul the 437-run world-record target against Bangladesh as Mohammad Rizwan and Sajid Khan remained unbeaten on the crease at stumps on day four in the second Test match here at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Rizwan had contributed a valiant 75 not out in Pakistan’s total of 316-7 in 86 overs, while Sajid Khan – who contributed a valuable 28-ball 38 in first innings - faced nine balls for eight runs hitting two fours after Taijul Islam had broken the 134-run stand removing Salman Ali Agha and then nine balls later Hasan Ali for a quick turnaround in hosts’ fortunes.

Salman was joined by Rizwan on the crease with Pakistan staring down the barrel at 162-5 in 44.3 overs as Bangladesh had snapped the wickets of Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel in 44th and 45th over.

The duo then put on their fourth century partnership in the format and second this series. They also completed 1,000 Test runs in tandem to steer the visitor towards a position of strength. Salman and Rizwan took Pakistan to tea at 200-5 in 53 runs before piling on the runs in the hour after the break.

Rizwan, who hit a total of eight fours in his knock, brought up his 14th Test half-century with a boundary in the 70th over off 86 balls, while Salman’s 12th half-century in Tests came in the 74th over having faced 74 balls.

Taijul - Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in Tests struck with the new ball castling Salman for a 102-ball 71 (6x4s, 1x6) to put his team back in the contest in 82nd over. He then returned in his next over to get Hasan Ali caught at slip for a six-ball duck. It was in the same over that Sajid hit two fours to restore some confidence for Pakistan as stumps were drawn two overs later.

Earlier, Pakistan had started the day in pursuit of the uphill task from no runs on the board in two overs with both opening batters intact. It took Bangladesh 14 overs in the day to send both Azan Awais (21, 49b, 2x4s) and Abdullah Fazal (6, 28b, 1x4) back with Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, striking in 11th and 16th overs, respectively.

It was at this juncture when Pakistan’s experienced duo of Shan Masood (71, 116b, 8x4s) and Babar Azam (47, 52b, 4x4s, 1x6) stitched together 92 runs at a fluent rate, consuming 115 balls.

Taijul picked up his first of four scalps in the second innings by getting Babar get caught behind down the leg side after the right-handed batter was churning runs at a brisk rate.

After Saud Shakeel (6, 21b) and Shan Masood had gathered 21 runs off 52 balls for the fourth wicket, Nahid crucially induced an outside edge with a full ball off the former’s bat to consign Pakistan to 154-4. Five balls later Taijul again inflicted a blow getting rid of Shan, who had scored 71 off 118 balls with the help of eight fours.

At stumps on day four, Taijul’s figures read as 31-3-113-4, while Nahid’s two wickets had come for 58 runs in 14 overs. Mehidy was the other wicket-taker for Bangladesh having returned 1-62 in his 20 overs.

Scores in brief

2nd Test – Day 4 Stumps – Pakistan require another 121 runs to win at Sylhet International cricket stadium. Sylhet

Bangladesh 278 all out, 77 overs (Litton Das 126; Khurram Shahzad 4-81, Mohammad Abbas 3-45, Hasan Ali 2-49) and 390 all out, 102.2 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 137, Litton Das 69, Mahmudul Hasan Joy 52; Khurram Shahzad 4-86, Sajid Khan 3-126, Hasan Ali 2-83)

Pakistan 232 all out, 57.4 overs (Babar Azam 68, Sajid Khan 38; Nahid Rana 3-60, Taijul Islam 3-67, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-21) and 316-7, 86 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 75 not out, Salman Ali Agha 71, Shan Masood 71, Babar Azam 47, Azan Awais 21; Taijul Islam 4-113, Nahid Rana 2-58).