SYLHET: Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim moved into the record books with a resolute century as Bangladesh tightened their grip on the second Test against Pakistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday, setting the visitors an imposing 437-run target and leaving them staring at a series whitewash.

At stumps on the third day, Pakistan were nought without loss after surviving two probing overs from Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam before fading light brought an early close. Openers Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais remained unbeaten, but the scale of the challenge ahead loomed large.

No team has successfully chased more than 418 runs in the fourth innings of a Test — achieved by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003 — while Pakistan’s highest successful chase remains 377. Having already lost the opening Test, Pakistan now require something extraordinary over the remaining two days to draw the series level.

Bangladesh resumed the day on 110-3, already 156 runs ahead, and steadily tightened their hold through Mushfiqur’s masterful 137 and a fluent 69 from Litton Das.

The 39-year-old Mushfiqur produced an innings built on patience, discipline and experience, frustrating Pakistan’s bowlers during a stay of 233 deliveries that featured 12 boundaries and a six. His knock carried added significance as it became his 14th Test century, taking him past Mominul Haque for the most Test hundreds by a Bangladeshi batter.

It was also his eighth century since 2022, underlining a remarkable late-career resurgence.

Pakistan did make early inroads when Khurram Shahzad trapped Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw for 15 during the morning session. Khurram, who was Pakistan’s standout bowler with 4-86, generated movement and posed consistent questions on a surface that had offered some assistance early in the match.

But once Mushfiqur and Litton settled, Pakistan’s grip loosened.

Litton, fresh from a first-innings century, continued his productive match with another polished contribution. He counterattacked effectively, collecting boundaries square of the wicket and down the ground while also benefiting from a couple of reprieves.

On 38, he survived a run-out opportunity when Babar Azam missed the stumps from short midwicket after a mix-up between the batters. Later, on 56, he was dropped by off-spinner Sajid Khan off his own bowling.

Pakistan eventually broke the 123-run fifth-wicket stand when Litton upper-cut Hasan Ali to fly slip, where Saud Shakeel completed the catch.

Yet Mushfiqur remained unflustered.

The veteran reached his landmark in memorable fashion, driving Mohammad Abbas for four to bring up his century off 178 deliveries and move clear of Mominul in Bangladesh’s Test history.

He continued to frustrate Pakistan in the company of Taijul Islam, who added a valuable 22 in a seventh-wicket partnership worth 77 runs. Taijul struck two crisp boundaries and helped extend Bangladesh’s advantage beyond Pakistan’s reach.

Sajid eventually removed Taijul and later finished with 3-126, while Mushfiqur was the final wicket to fall with around 35 minutes remaining in the day.

Despite spending long periods in the field across the series, Pakistan’s bowlers continued to toil without sustained reward. Pace bowling coach Umar Gul acknowledged that Bangladesh’s batters had outperformed his attack but insisted the tourists had not abandoned hopes of a dramatic chase.

“We have two days left and we are mentally prepared,” Gul said after play. “If we bat through the full duration, there is a chance to win because we aren’t just looking for a draw.”

Gul believed the pitch remained favourable for batting despite the daunting target.

“On the second and third days, it has been perfectly good for the batters,” he observed. “The ball is coming nicely onto the bat and giving the batters plenty of time. Two or three good partnerships will be very important. To chase 437, you have to be brave and play positive cricket.”

The former fast bowler also pointed to Pakistan’s limited red-ball preparation and sparse Test schedule as contributing factors behind the inconsistency of the pace attack during the series.

Bangladesh, however, appeared increasingly confident of completing a memorable sweep.

Taijul cautioned that discipline would still be essential because the surface continued to play well, but he felt the scoreboard pressure could weigh heavily on Pakistan’s minds.

“When they see the target number, many things may work in their minds,” the left-arm spinner said. “Right now it is fifty-fifty, but whichever side performs better has the better chance to win.”

Pakistan’s task on Tuesday will be straightforward in theory yet daunting in practice: bat long enough to rewrite history.

To stay alive in the contest, they will need their middle order — featuring Babar and Saud — to finally deliver substantial contributions against a Bangladesh attack that has consistently exposed their fragility throughout the series.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, stand just 10 wickets away from another landmark triumph at home, with Mushfiqur’s timeless innings having pushed them firmly to the brink of it.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH (1st Innings) 278 (Litton Das 126; Khurram Shahzad 4-81)

PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 232 (Babar Azam 68; Nahid Rana 3-60)

BANGLADESH (2nd Innings, overnight 110-3)

Mahmudul Hasan c Abdullah b Abbas 52

Tanzid Hasan c Saud b Khurram 4

Mominul Haque c Rizwan b Khurram 30

Najmul Hossain lbw b Khurram 15

Mushfiqur Rahim c Abbas b Sajid 137

Litton Das c Saud b Hasan 69

Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Khurram 19

Taijul Islam c Abbas b Sajid 22

Taskin Ahmed c Salman b Hasan 6

Shoriful Islam c Hasan b Sajid 12

Nahid Rana not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-11, NB-11, W-2) 24

TOTAL (all out, 102.2 overs) 390

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-15 (Tanzid), 2-91 (Mahmudul), 3-110 (Mominul), 4-115 (Najmul), 5-238 (Litton), 6-272 (Mehidy), 7-349 (Taijul), 8-364 (Taskin), 9-383 (Shoriful)

BOWLING: Abbas 23-2-66-1, Khurram 20-3-86-4 (10nb), Hasan 23-2-83-2 (1w), Sajid 33.2-2-126-3, Salman 1-0-5-0, Saud 2-0-13-0 (1nb)

PAKISTAN (2nd Innings):

Azan Awais not out 0

Abdullah Fazal not out 0

TOTAL (for no loss, two overs) 0

STILL TO BAT: Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Khurram Shahzad, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas

BOWLING: Taskin 1-1-0-0, Shoriful 1-1-0-0

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2026