Pakistan crept closer to winning the second and final test after leaving Bangladesh on Friday with nearly 500 runs, effectively eight wickets, and two days to deny the visitors a series victory.
After Pakistan declared for a second time and set an unlikely target of 550 to win the test, Bangladesh lost a wicket and was 63/1 at stumps.
But the home side had only eight more wickets left, as fast bowler Shahadat Hossain cannot bat after a serious knee injury on the first day.
The test is Pakistan’s last chance to salvage a miserable tour after being swept in the one-day internationals, losing the Twenty20, and conceding a draw in the first test in Khulna.
Bangladesh will have to go where it’s never gone to keep this Test alive, and on a pitch that was beginning to offer sharp turn and bounce.
The home side’s highest fourth-innings score has been 413 in 2008 in a match it lost. The highest successful chase in a fourth innings is 418—7 by West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.
At the crease were Tamim Iqbal on 32, and Mominul Haque on 15.
Tamim, who scored a career—best 206 to save the first test, became only the second Bangladeshi to cross 3,000 test runs after Habibul Bashar on Friday, and needs only 17 more to become the highest run—getter for Bangladesh in tests.
Imrul Kayes was bowled for the second time in the match by legspinner Yasir Shah, this time for 16, half as much as his first innings. Shah baffled Kayes with one that turned viciously.
Bangladesh started the day batting, from 107—5 overnight. Shakib Al Hasan’s 89 not out off 91 balls lifted them to 203 all out.
With Shahadat unable to bat, Shakib had little support, but unleashed a spectacular attack on the Pakistani bowlers and made all but one of the runs in a 63—run stand with No. 10 batsman Mohammad Shahid.
Pakistan decided to bat again, and was set back initially when fast bowler Shahid removed openers Mohammad Hafeez (0) and Sami Aslam (8) to leave Pakistan at 25—2.
Medium—pacer Soumya Sarkar accounted for Azhar Ali for 25, but then Younis Khan and captain Misbah—ul—Haq regained the momentum.
Bangladesh could have imposed more pressure on Pakistan had Taijul Islam not put down a catch at cover when Younis was on 16. Sarkar was bowling. Younis went on to 39 before he was dismissed by Taijul.
Misbah went after the bowlers, with a rapid 82. He smashed nine fours and three sixes in his 72—ball knock. The second six was Pakistan’s 1,000th over the boundary in tests.
As soon as he holed out to deep mid—wicket, Pakistan declared.
