Pace bowler Khurram Shahzad delivered a stunning performance on Sunday, claiming four wickets to leave Bangladesh fighting to avoid the follow-on at 75-6 by lunch on the third day of the second Test in Rawalpindi.
Shahzad dismantled the top order with figures of 4-15, supported by Mir Hamza, who took 2-29. Bangladesh collapsed to 26-6 in response to Pakistan’s first innings total of 274 in a rain-affected match, with the first day’s play washed out.
At the break, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was batting on 33, and Litton Das was on 13, as the duo fought to stabilize the innings with a stubborn unbroken seventh-wicket stand worth 49 runs. Mehidy, with seven fours in his resilient 48-ball innings, is leading the resistance, but Bangladesh still needs 49 more runs to avoid the follow-on with four wickets remaining.
Bangladesh began their innings on 10-0, but Shahzad quickly made an impact by dismissing opener Zakir Hasan for one in the fourth over. He then bowled Shadman Islam (10) and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (1) in consecutive deliveries to reduce Bangladesh to 20-3.
Hamza also contributed by removing Mominul Haque for one and first-Test centurion Mushfiqur Rahim for three, with a fine outswinger caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan.
Shahzad further reduced Bangladesh to 26-6 by trapping Shakib Al Hasan lbw for two before Mehidy and Das steadied the innings.
Bangladesh leads the two-match series 1-0 after their victory by 10 wickets in the first Test, also in Rawalpindi, marking their first win in 14 matches against Pakistan.
