The Bangladesh batters crumbled in their 1st innings ending the Day at the loss of 7 wickets for just 76 runs after Pakistan declared their first innings on 300/4.
Day-4 today was scheduled to start at 9:30 am. However, the wet outfield and a slight drizzle did not permit play to start before 10:50 am.
The unbeaten duo of Azhar Ali and Babar Azam got out early in the morning falling to pacer Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed respectively. Azhar Ali got out for 56 from 144 balls and skipper Babar Azam was dismissed for 76 off 126 balls, who in the process handed Khaled Ahmed his first Test wicket.
Soon after their dismissal, wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan (53 from 94 balls) and Fawad Alam (50 off 96 balls) stitched a partnership of 103 runs that took the Pakistani total to 300/4. As both the batters reached their well deserved 50, Pakistan captain Babar Azam declared.
Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Hossain were the wicket-takers for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh batters Shadman Islam and debutant Mahmudul Hasan Joy opened the innings with 30 minutes remaining for the Tea break.
On a wicket that was turning, the Bangladeshi top order could form no resistance at all to the left-arm spin of Sajid Khan. Debutant Mahmudul Hasan Joy was first to make his way towards the dressing room after handing out a catch to the slip for a duck off the bowling of Sajid Khan.
Afterwards, the other opener Shadman Islam was dismissed for just 3 from 28 balls off the same bowler. Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque got run out on the 11th over as the players took tea with the score reading 22/3.
In the last session of the Day, Sajid Khan caused havoc and spearheaded through the Tigers' batting lineup.
The Bangladeshi batters had no answer to his spin. Experienced Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das were dismissed in the span of 4 overs for 5 and 6 runs respectively.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who was riding on his luck with close calls, was the next victim of Khan. He was trapped for an lbw for 30 runs off 50 balls.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the latest casualty for Bangladesh, who was bowled of the bowling of none other than Sajid Khan.
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam remained unbeaten at the end of the day. Shakib scored 23 runs from 32 balls and Taijul Islam was yet to get off the mark.
The Pakistani spin duo of Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan bowled 24 overs among them and Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam bowled 1 over each.
Among the 7 Bangladeshi wickets that fell, Sajid Khan alone took 6 wickets who finished the day with figures of 12-3-35-6.
Bangladesh still need 25 runs to avoid the follow on as the likely draw of the match is slowly turning into a possibility of a Pakistan victory on Day-5 of the match tomorrow.
