Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test Day 4 preview: Hosts should mop up inside an hour

Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test Day 4 preview: Hosts should mop up inside an hour

Naseem Shah Pakistan

Up against a deficit of 212, Bangladesh were 124/2 in the 41st over started. Then Naseem Shah (4/26) ripped the heart out of the Bangladesh middle-order: still 6 days away from his 17th birthday, Naseem became the youngest to take a Test hat-trick. With Yasir Shah (2/33) also picking up a wicket, Bangladesh finished the day on 126/6; they still need 86 to make Pakistan bat again.

At the crease are Mominul Haque, on 37, and a scoreless Liton Das – the last in the lineup with any batting credentials to speak about. However, little resistance is expected of Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed, and Ebadot Hossain, the men to follow this pair: Pakistan should win inside the first hour.

Bangladesh had started the day well, Jayed (3/86) and Rubel (3/113) combining to bowl out Pakistan for 445 after they began the day on 342/3. Babar Azam fell on his overnight score of 143, while Asad Shafiq added 5 to his 60. The bulk of today’s runs came from Haris Sohail (75).

Naseem then broke through in the ninth over of the Bangladesh innings, bowling Saif Hassan (16) through the gate. Tamim Iqbal batted delightfully for his 34 before Yasir skidded one through to trap him leg-before.

Najmul Hossain Shanto was on 38 when Naseem’s fateful over began. Pakistan needed a review for Shanto, but not one for nightwatchman Taijul Islam, both of whom were trapped leg before. Then Mahmudullah tried to slash one through the offside and edged to slip.

Mithun, who had got a fifty in the first innings, became the third batsman to fall for a duck in the second, when he committed himself too soon for a pull.

Key players

Naseem Shah (Pakistan): Naseem was pumped up during that hat-trick over. He has bowled fast here, and a short burst in the morning may help him improve on his career-best figures of 5/31.

Mominul Islam (Bangladesh): Not for the first time has Mominul stayed put when wickets fell around him. He has to lead the way if Bangladesh are to get those 88 runs to make Pakistan bat again.

Brief scores

Bangladesh 233 (Mohammad Mithun 63; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4/53) and 126/6 (Mominul Haque 37*; Naseem Shah 4/26) trail Pakistan 445 (Babar Azam 143, Shan Masood 100; Abu Jayed 3/86) by 86 runs.

Prediction

Pakistan to win by an innings inside the first hour.