Pakistan VS Bangladesh Alessa Holding Test Series
Played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram (26-30 November) 2021
Brief Score Card at Stumps Day Three
Bangladesh 330 All Out In The 1st Innings: (Liton K Das 114, Mushfiqur Rahim 91, Hasan Ali 5/51, Faheem Ashraf 2/54, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/70, Sajid Khan 1/68)
Bangladesh 39/4 in the 2nd Innings (Saif Hasan 18, Mushfiqur Rahim 12*, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/6, Hasan Ali 1/18)
Pakistan 286 All Out in the 1st Innings (Abid Ali 133, Abdullah Shafique 52, Faheem Ashraf 38, Taijul Islam 7/116, Ebadat Hussain 2/47)
Bangladesh Leads Pakistan by 83 Runs with 6 2nd Innings Wickets at hand.
Valliant marathon Taizul effort taking 7/116 in 44.4 overs put Bangladesh in control in the 1st innings with Pakistan getting all out 286. But fearsome pace bowling of Shaheen Afridi (3/6) and Hasan Ali (1/16) decimating Bangladesh yet again to 39/4 tilted balance in favor of the tourists. Uneven wicket is turning and gripping, odd balls are keeping low. Bangladesh with 6-second innings wicket is leading Pakistan by 83 runs. With two days still to play would say the match is delicately poised.
A completely different looking Bangladesh appeared on day three with Pakistan solidly placed at 145 /0. Ebabat bowled at pace attacking the stumps, Taizul started teasing and tormenting. Abdullah and Azhar trapped in front by Taijul on consecutive deliveries in his very first over of day three started the Pakistan collapse. Babar Azam joining Abid Ali started to resurrect. But Mehedy Miraj too undid him with a beautiful delivery.
Suddenly shocked and awed Pakistan started huffing and puffing. In the face of accurate penetrative bowling Pakistan batting looked helpless. Only Abid kept the Pakistan hope alive and Faheem Ashraf kept the fight going. But wicket started turning and balls keeping low kept Pakistan at bay. Ultimately Abid fell scoring 133 in 282 balls. Apart from him, Abdullah Shafiue (52) and Faheem (38) none could resist resurging Bengal tigers. Pakistan getting all out by 286 runs conceded useful 44 runs lead. Underrated Taijul Islam in his marathon endeavor took 7/116 in his 44.4 overs. Much different Ebadat took 2/47. Bangladesh badly missed a fifth bowler.
The brave efforts of Bangladesh in the field appeared to be undone again for the spineless batting of Bangladesh top order. Shaheen moved the ball prodigiously generating express pace. Hasan also looked penetrative.
Shadman Islam, Nazmul Shanto , Mominul Haq and Saif Hasan were blown away in no time. Bangladesh lost 4wickets for 26 runs. Mushfique (12*) and debutant Yasir Ali (8*) were at the wicket when stumps were drawn early for bad light. Bangladesh would hope that their best ever batsman Mushfique looking unperturbed would carry the team on his shoulder once again. Bangladesh needs 220-230 runs lead to test Pakistan on the turning track. But that task would not be easy at all. The fate of the match still hangs on a delicate balance.
14 wickets falling on day three turned the match upside down.
Whatever be the ultimate outcome praise must be done of the excellent bowling of Taijul (7/116), Ebadat (2/47) and Mehedy Miraj. Bangladesh definitely missed a regular 5th bowler, another spinner.
BDST: 1205 HRS, NOV 29, 2021
SMS
