Lunch Bangladesh 262 and 122 for 2 (Zakir 40, Shanto 33*, Hamza 1-34) need 63 runs to win against Pakistan 274 and 172
Zakir didn’t last long though. Mir Hamza who had found the right spot just around the length area outside off, got a ball to angle in from the over-the-wicket line and hold its line after pitching and do enough to beat Zakir’s outside off and take the top of off stump.
Both Hamza and Ali strung the dot balls in, making sure no easy runs were given. When Shanto finally got off the mark on his tenth ball, it was the first run scored by Bangladesh after 25 deliveries. Hamza then also induced a thick outside edge off Shadman’s blade that flew to the left of Salman Agha at second slip. He made a valiant effort diving one-handed but failed to latch on. A third slip would have gobbled up the catch, but it was not to be.
Shadman failed to make much of the reprieve falling eight balls later to a loose drive. Khurram Shahzad got the ball to float up and outside off, with the opener driving on the up and straight to a pumped-up Shan Masood.
Pakistan’s hopes of a comeback were quashed by Shanto and Mominul. The hosts did have their chances, drawing the odd edges but the ball continued to evade the fielders. Both Shanto and Mominul were sedate in their approach. They knew time wasn’t the issue as they kept rotating the strike eating up on the target slowly but steadily.
Shanto still took the aggressive route a few times like uppishly flicking Ali through midwicket and then smashing Shahzad down the ground, but Mominul was happy to just get the singles. The only time Mominul showed some aggression was when he slog-swept Abrar Ahmed through midwicket for four.
Masood rung in the changes, and brought Hamza back on before lunch but the duo remained unmoved.
Ashish Pant is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo
Source: ESPN Crickinfo