A historic maiden century from debutant Azan Awais and resilient fifties from Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha were not enough to overhaul Bangladesh’s first-innings total, as the hosts seized a slender 27-run lead on an enthralling third day of the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Resuming at a comfortable 179 for 1, Pakistan looked poised to dominate. However, the morning session transformed into a grueling test of patience as Bangladesh’s spinners, led by the tireless Mehidy Hasan Miraz, exploited the widening cracks in the Mirpur surface to bowl Pakistan out for 386.
The day’s narrative was initially owned by 21-year-old Azan Awais. Resuming on 85, the left-handed opener displayed nerves of steel to reach his century in the morning session, becoming only the third Pakistani to score an away Test ton on debut. His innings of 103, featuring 14 boundaries, was a masterclass in application – especially considering the physical toll of surviving a concussive Nahid Rana bouncer late on Day 2.
Opener Imam-ul-Haq (45) and No. 3 Abdullah Fazal (60) got starts, but were not able to kick on and convert them into big knocks.
Awais’ departure, caught by Najmul Hossain Shanto off Taskin Ahmed, triggered a mini-collapse.| BAN vs PAK, 1st Test Updates – Scorecard |
Pakistan’s middle order struggled against the reverse-swinging ball and the probing lines of Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Skipper Shan Masood (9) and Saud Shakeel (0) fell in quick succession, leaving the visitors reeling at 227 for 4.
RIZWAN AND AGHA FIGHT
With the lead in sight, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha combined for a vital 119-run partnership that momentarily silenced the Dhaka crowd. Rizwan played with his characteristic busy energy, sweeping and dancing down the track to negate the spin. He brought up a fluent half-century (59 off 79 balls), while Agha provided sturdy support with a gritty 58. The pair seemed destined to steer Pakistan past Bangladesh’s 413, but the second new ball changed the complexion of the game.
Taijul Islam broke the stand by removing Rizwan, and Nahid Rana returned to the attack to claim Agha, caught at slip.
As the shadows lengthened, Mehidy Hasan Miraz took center stage.
The off-spinner cleaned up the tail with surgical precision, finishing with figures of 5 for 96. His dismissal of Noman Ali and Shaheen Afridi ensured Pakistan’s innings folded at 386, handing Bangladesh a crucial mental and mathematical advantage.
Despite the brilliance of Awais and Rizwan, Pakistan will rue the middle-order slump that prevented them from building a lead of their own.
Bangladesh’s openers survived a brief, testing period before bad light ended play, with the hosts leading by 34 runs overall. With two days remaining and the pitch beginning to turn sharply, the Mirpur Test remains delicately poised.
Pakistan, who are without Babar Azam, will be hoping to make use of the weary pitch and put pressure on the Bangladesh batters as they wouldn’t want to be chasing anything more than 200 in the final innings.
– Ends
