05/10/26 10:16:00
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05/10 10:15 CDT Mehidy Hasan claims 5 wickets as Bangladesh takes slim lead
over Pakistan in 1st test
Mehidy Hasan claims 5 wickets as Bangladesh takes slim lead over Pakistan in
1st test
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) --- Mehidy Hasan claimed five wickets with his crafty
off-spin as Bangladesh fought to regain control of the first cricket test
against Pakistan on Sunday.
Mehidy finished with 5-102 to help Bangladesh dismiss Pakistan for 386 and take
a 27-run first-innings lead on a rain-affected third day. Bangladesh then moved
to 7 for no loss, stretching the overall lead to 34, before bad light forced an
early close of play.
Opener Azan Awais hit 103 on his debut to lead Pakistan's batsmen. Three other
batters --- debutant Abdullah Fazal, Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan --- hit
half-centuries to complement him, but Mehidy ensured Bangladesh took the lead.
"I think the match is evenly poised," Mehidy said. "You can never say what
score is safe here, but I believe 290 to 300 runs can be a good score on this
wicket because batting will be very difficult on the fourth and fifth days."
Pakistan appeared set for a big first-innings total after resuming at 179-1.
Awais began the day fluently, hitting two fours in the first four overs to
reach 99. He then nudged Nahid Rana to point for a single to raise his century
off 153 balls, becoming the 15th Pakistan batter to hit a ton on debut.
But the brilliant knock came to an end when Taskin (2-70) dismissed him for his
50th test wicket. In doing so, Taskin became only the third Bangladeshi pacer
after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain Rajib to reach the milestone.
"I feel blessed," Awais said. "When I was going for batting, I was a little bit
nervous, but I performed well for my team."
Taskin then sent back captain Shan Masood to trigger a mini collapse as
Pakistan lost three wickets for four runs.
Mehidy struck twice, including the wicket of another debutant in Abdullah
Fazal, who made 60, leaving Pakistan at 230-5.
Salman Agha and Rizwan mounted a strong recovery with a 119-run partnership,
which frustrated Bangladesh's bowlers and revived Pakistan's hopes.
But left-arm spinner Taijul Islam broke through with the wicket of Rizwan,
dismissing him for 59.
Rain arrived shortly after his dismissal to delay the game for two hours.
Fast bowler Nahid Rana struck immediately after the resumption by getting the
better of Salman for his only wicket in the innings.
Salman's dismissal, however, effectively ended Pakistan's hopes of taking an
innings lead.
Mehidy then sent back Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi in consecutive overs to
complete his 14th five-for before Taijul (2-46) wrapped up Pakistan's innings.
Mahmudul Hasan was on 2 while Shadman Islam was yet to score when umpires
called it a day.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto struck a sublime
century --- a 130-ball 101 --- and Mominul Haque made 91 to lift Bangladesh to
413 all out in its first innings.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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