Mehidy Hasan bagged a five-wicket haul to help Bangladesh keep their noses ahead on Day 3 of the opening Test against Pakistan in Dhaka. Pakistan resumed from a strong overnight score of 179/1 and saw Azan Awais go on to make a century. There were also three half-centurions to follow but Mehidy's 5/102 and two wickets apiece for Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam kept the visitors to 386. Bangladesh played out less than two overs of their second innings before bad light brought an early end to the day.
In an eventful start to the day, a lot transpired in the opening hour. Awais added 15 runs to his overnight score to get to a century but fell shortly after, to Taskin Ahmed. The Bangladesh pacer then got rid of Shan Masood for just nine. In the first over after drinks, Mehidy began to make incisions - first accounting for Saud Shakeel who departed for a duck. Three overs later, he had Abdullah Fazal - one of three half-centurions, caught at mid-on to reduce the visitors to 230/5.
Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan took charge and put on a 119-run stand, both hitting half-centuries. In the tenth over since taking the new ball, Taijul Islam dismissed Rizwan. Following Rizwan's exit, nearly two hours of play was lost to rain, leading to an early Tea break. When play resumed, Agha departed - falling to Nahid Rana, and Mehidy completed his fifer as Pakistan went from 353/7 to 386 all-out.
The fading light only permitted 1.5 overs of Bangladesh's second dig before sending the players indoors once more. Beyond this, no further play was possible.
@B0$Bangladesh 413 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 101, Mominul Haque 91; Mohammad Abbas 5-92) & 7/0 lead Pakistan 386 (Azan Awais 103, Abdullah Fazal 60, Mohammad Rizwan 59, Salman Agha 58; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-102) by 34 runs.
