Bangladesh hit back after Pakistan slump in Dhaka Test

DHAKA: Bangladesh fought back strongly in the morning session on the third day of the first Test, reducing Pakistan from 210-1 to 230-5 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan had resumed on 179-1 with debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal at the crease after closing the previous day in a strong position in reply to Bangladesh’s 413.

The visitors’ slide began when Azan, who had resumed on 85 not out, was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed. Before his departure, however, the left-hander completed a century on debut and entered the record books with a hundred in his first Test innings.

Azan made 103 off 165 balls, striking 14 fours. His landmark came in the 51st over of Pakistan’s innings when he took a single off Nahid Rana. The 21-year-old thus became the 14th Pakistan batter to score a century on Test debut. He also became only the third Pakistani batter to achieve the feat in away conditions, joining Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam.

Khalid Ibadulla was the first Pakistan batter to score a century on Test debut, while Yasir Hameed remains the only one to make a hundred in each innings of his debut Test.

After Azan’s dismissal, Pakistan lost wickets in quick succession. Captain Shan Masood was out for 9, Saud Shakeel fell without scoring, and Fazal departed for 60, leaving the tourists five down for 230.

Fazal had helped Pakistan build a solid platform alongside Azan after Bangladesh had posted 413 in their first innings. On the opening day, Bangladesh had recovered from 31-2 to finish on 301-4, with Najmul Hossain Shanto making 101. Mohammad Abbas later returned figures of 5-92 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 413, while Shaheen Shah Afridi became the first Pakistan bowler to reach 100 wickets in the World Test Championship during the match.

Following the collapse, Agha Salman and Muhammad Rizwan steadied the innings before the lunch interval. The pair added 21 runs for the sixth wicket to take Pakistan to 251-5 at lunch, still 162 runs behind Bangladesh.

Agha was unbeaten on 12 at the break, while Rizwan was not out on 8.

Bangladesh bowlers turn the session

Bangladesh’s recovery with the ball was led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who claimed three wickets, while Taskin finished the session with two.

The morning had begun with Pakistan appearing well placed after their strong finish on the second day, but Bangladesh’s bowlers shifted momentum by striking repeatedly and checking the visitors’ progress.

With Pakistan still trailing by 162 runs at lunch despite Azan’s notable debut hundred, the match remained finely poised heading into the later sessions of the third day.