Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam produced a late double breakthrough on the fourth day to swing momentum back towards Bangladesh in the second and final Test against Pakistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a mammoth 437-run target, Pakistan reached 316 for seven in 86 overs at stumps, still needing 121 more runs with three wickets in hand heading into the final day. The highest successful fourth-innings chase in Test cricket remains West Indies’ 418-run effort against Australia in Antigua in 2003.
Pakistan appeared in control for much of their chase, with Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan steadily building the innings and keeping the scoreboard moving. However, Bangladesh struck immediately after taking the new ball.
Taijul Islam broke a vital 134-run sixth-wicket partnership when he bowled Salman Ali Agha for 71 off 102 balls, shifting the momentum back towards the hosts.
He struck again in his very next over, getting Hasan Ali to edge one to first slip for a duck off six deliveries, further denting Pakistan’s lower order.
Despite the late breakthroughs, Pakistan remain in the contest with Rizwan unbeaten on 75 off 134 balls, anchoring the chase into the final day.
Bangladesh will look to remove Rizwan early on the final morning and push for a series-clinching victory, after having already secured a historic 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2024.
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