On yet another day marred by rain and bad light, where less than 49 overs were bowled, Bangladesh stretched their lead to 179 with half-centuries from Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain. Bangladesh ended fourth day's play at 152 for 3
The two half-centuries, who formed the backbone of Bangladesh's fight on Monday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, did enjoy their share of luck en route their 105-run alliance for the third wicket, especially Mominul. After an edge fell short of the fielder at slips after being deflected off the 'keeper's pads, when he was batting on 15, he was given another life on 43, when Fazal dropped him on short leg soon after the 130-minute lunch and rain break.
Earlier in the day, Shadman Islam cut Shaheen Afridi for a boundary over backward point to get his innings going off his first ball. Mahmudul Hasan, however, didn't have it as easy. After surviving a run out due to a mix-up, he was trapped legbefore on 5 by Mohammad Abbas.
Shadman too didn't last long. Hasan Ali, in his first over of the day, got the ball to move just a bit and take the outside edge of Shadman's bat. While Pakistan did bowl fairly well, they couldn't create ample wicket-taking opportunities. In a bit of a hurry to get those wickets, they even burnt a review early.
Mominul and Najmul, however, ensured that the wait for the third scalp lasted quite long. They were patient, at times beaten and at times getting the ball to fall just short of the fielder. They waited for the loose deliveries to put away and stitched a century stand just before Shaheen eventually got a delivery in the corridor of uncertainty to just take the edge of Mominul's bat.
However, Bangladesh didn't go on the backfoot, and crunched a few boundaries before bad light brought an abrupt end to the day's play.
@B0$Bangladesh 413 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 101, Mominul Haque 91; Mohammad Abbas 5-92) & 152/3 (Najmul Hossain 58*, Mominul Haque 56) lead Pakistan 386 (Azan Awais 103, Abdullah Fazal 60, Mohammad Rizwan 59, Salman Agha 58; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-102) by 179 runs.
