Shadman leads BD fight back on day three

RAWALPINDI: Shadman Islam (93) led Bangladesh’s fight back on the third day of the World Test Championship match as Pakistan bowlers toiled all day for wickets here at the soft-looking Pindi Stadium pitch on Friday.

The visitors finished the day at a relatively strong position of 316-5. Apart from Shadman, veteran Mushfiqur Rahim (55 not out) who cantered to his 27th fifty (fifth against Pakistan) and Litton Das (52 not out) made it a visitors’ day with a 98-run unbroken stand for the sixth wicket.

Bangladesh still required 132 runs to nullify Pakistan’s first-innings lead with five wickets in hand. Even the new ball late on Friday could not come to Pakistan bowlers’ help with stylish wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das making full use of the placid pitch. Together with Mushfiq, he already had added 98 runs for the sixth wicket stand but more importantly, the pair has made sure that for Pakistan winning the Test would not be easier from here on.

Litton was seen toying with the Pakistan pacers once Shan Masood took the second new ball. He stepped out to hit Naseem Shah for a straight four and minutes later sent the ball out of the ground when Naseem tried to bowl a short-pitched delivery. Litton raced to his 17th Test fifty off 52 balls and in the process stole 18 runs from Naseem over which also helped Bangladesh cross 300. Pakistan bowlers looked helpless against the exciting stroke-making exhibited by the two wicket-keeper batsmen. The pre and post-lunch session on the third day, however, belonged to Shadman who was unlucky to have missed a century.

Shadman struck 12 fours during his calculated 183-ball innings which held Bangladesh’s innings together. Otherwise cool customer, Shadman missed the line of an in-dipping delivery by Khurram Shahzad (2-47) only to see stumps shattered.

“Litton took the fight back to the Pakistan bowlers scoring 18 runs in Naseem Shah’s one over. He is a class act who knows how to fight back to the opposition. I think we have a very good chance here to put the pressure back on the home team,” Mominul Haque, the fourth half-century scorer for the Bangladesh side said in a post-day media talk.

He added that the first session on Saturday morning would be important.

“The session is very important for the Test perspective. If we succeed in maintaining the same tempo Saturday morning that was there in the afternoon we have a good chance in the Test.” Khurram was the most impressive of Pakistan bowlers as his spell especially after lunch brought the best out of him. He not only picked up Mominul Haque (50), Khurram troubled Shadman with his immaculate line and length that forced batsmen to play him with utmost care. Khurram earlier had also captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (16) bowled with a delivery that sharply pierced through his defenses. In a post-lunch session, Salman Ali Agha, the only notable spinner Pakistan have in the Test line-up, asked some questions. He almost grabbed Shadman’s wicket when the TV umpire reversed the LBW decision.

At the stroke of tea, Mohammad Ali’s ripper of delivery shattered Shadman’s (93) timbers to leave Bangladesh four down for 198. When part-timer Saim Ayub picked up Shakib Al Hasan at extra cover on a missed timed cover drive, Bangladesh were left in a spot of bother at 218-5 when Litton and Mushfiq started the rebuilding process.

Bangladesh won the toss

Pakistan 1st Innings 448/6 dec

Bangladesh 1st Innings

Islam b Mohammad Ali 93

Hasan c Rizwan b Naseem 12

Shanto (c) b Khurram 16

Haque b Khurram 50

Rahim not out 55

Hasan c Shan b Saim 15

Das not out 52

Extras: (lb 19, nb 3, w 1) 23

Total: 92 Ov (RR: 3.43) 316/5

Yet to bat: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-53, 3-147, 4-199, 5-218

Bowling: Shaheen Shah Afridi 18-3-55-0, Naseem Shah 20-4-77-1, Khurram Shahzad 19-3-47-2, Mohammad Ali 15-2-42-1, Agha Salman 15-1-53-0, Saim Ayub 5-1-23-1

Umpires: Adrian Holdstock, Richard Kettleborough