Sylhet: Taijul Islam’s four wickets sparked a dramatic Pakistan collapse at the end of the fourth day of the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with the visitors needing 121 runs to win.
In the final session, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha held firm against Bangladesh’s restrained attack, teasing the hosts with a crucial 100 for the sixth wicket to ease the early pressure.
Rizwan continued the innings with his 14th Test half-century, while Salman Ali Agha reached his 12th first-class half-century in red-ball cricket as Pakistan passed 250.
However, the 134-run partnership was eventually broken when Taijul struck again, taking Salman to 71 off 102 balls, an innings studded with six fours and a six.
Pakistan then slipped into further trouble, losing their seventh wicket when Hasan Ali was ducked out and Taijul took his fourth wicket of the innings. The visitors were bowled out for 304-7 in 83.2 overs.
At the end of play, Pakistan were 316-7 in 86 overs, with Rizwan unbeaten on 75 and Sajid Khan on 8, needing 121 runs to win.
Earlier, Pakistan got off to a steady start on day four as Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal adopted a cautious approach. However, Nahid Rana smashed Fazal for a six off 28 balls to break their 27-run opening stand.
Pakistan suffered further setbacks as Mehdi Hasan Miraz dismissed Azan for 21, 41-2 in 16 overs.
Babar Azam and Shaun Masood held the innings for the third wicket to take Pakistan past 100.
Pakistan, who started the second session on 101-2, lost three wickets before tea as Nahid Rana and Taijul Islam dismissed Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel and Shaun Masood in quick succession.
Babar struggled and fell with 47 off 52 balls, while South Shakeel managed just 6 off 21 balls as Pakistan were under pressure at 154-4 in 43.4 overs.
Shaun Masood hit 71 off 116 balls to reach his 14th Test half-century but was eventually dismissed by Taijul as Pakistan slipped further.
Despite the collapse, Rizwan and Salman rebuilt the innings with a crucial stand that pushed Pakistan past 200 and briefly stabilized the chase.
Earlier, Bangladesh were bowled out for 278 after being bowled out for 116-6 in their first innings. Liton Das scored 126 off 159 balls including 16 fours and 2 sixes.
Pakistan bowled with Khurram Shahzad taking 4 wickets for 81 runs, Mohammad Abbas 3 wickets, Hasan Ali 2 wickets and Sajid Khan 1 wicket.
Pakistan were bowled out for 232, trailing by 46 runs. Babar Azam scored 68 runs and Sajid Khan scored 38 runs.
Bangladesh scored 390 in their second innings, setting a tough target of 437 for Pakistan. Mushfiqur Rahim scored 137 runs supported by Liton Das and Mahmud Hasan Joy.
Khurram Shahzad again claimed four wickets, while Sajid Khan claimed three wickets, with Hasan Ali and Abbas sharing the rest of the scalps.