SYLHET: Bangladesh moved to the brink of a landmark home series triumph over Pakistan after a tense fourth day of the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with the hosts requiring only three more wickets to complete a 2-0 sweep.

Set a daunting 437 for victory, Pakistan fought back admirably through Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha after slipping into serious trouble, but Bangladesh regained the initiative late in the evening session to leave the tourists on 316-7 at stumps, still 121 runs short of what would be the highest successful chase in Test history.

Rizwan, unbeaten on 75, and Sajid Khan, on eight, will resume on the final morning carrying Pakistan’s fading hopes, though the balance of the contest remains firmly tilted towards Bangladesh after left-arm spinner Taijul Islam delivered another decisive spell of 4-113.

Bangladesh had begun the day expecting a swift finish, but the visitors showed far greater resistance than they had for most of the series. Even so, the hosts ended the day in sight of a first-ever Test series win over Pakistan on home soil, having already claimed the opening match of the two-Test series.

Pakistan’s pursuit began shakily when Nahid Rana removed Abdullah Fazal early in the morning session with a sharp short ball that induced a miscued pull towards gully. Mehidy Hasan Miraz soon compounded Pakistan’s troubles when he trapped Azan Awais leg-before, leaving the visitors vulnerable at 55-2.

At that stage, Bangladesh appeared poised to steamroll Pakistan once more. Instead, Shan Masood and Babar Azam counter-attacked with fluency and intent to briefly shift the momentum.

Babar, who has struggled for consistency in recent Tests, looked positive from the outset and unfurled several authoritative strokes square of the wicket, while Shan gradually settled after a watchful beginning. Their partnership transformed the complexion of the session as Pakistan reached lunch on 101-2.

The pair added 77 runs and, for the first time in the series, Pakistan’s batting seemed capable of mounting a meaningful challenge. Shan, especially assured against spin, repeatedly pierced the off-side field, while Babar mixed caution with aggression against both pace and spin.

However, just when Pakistan appeared to be gaining control, Bangladesh struck back through Taijul.

Babar fell for 47 in unfortunate fashion, feathering a leg-side delivery through to Litton Das, whose sharp take behind the stumps drew widespread praise. The dismissal triggered another familiar collapse.

Nahid Rana then removed Saud Shakeel with a lifting delivery outside off stump, and Taijul dealt Pakistan a major blow when Shan, who had compiled a determined 71, flicked towards short leg where Mahmudul Hasan Joy held a smart catch.

From 162-2, Pakistan slid to 200-5 by tea, and Bangladesh sensed the finish line approaching.

Yet Rizwan and Salman resisted stubbornly in a gripping final session that tested the hosts’ patience. The pair added 134 runs for the sixth wicket to revive Pakistan’s hopes of an improbable chase and frustrate Bangladesh for more than three hours.

Rizwan, compact and composed, once again demonstrated his value in adversity. He rotated strike cleverly against the spinners, used his feet effectively and punished anything loose, while Salman matched him stroke for stroke during a calm and disciplined innings of 71.

The stand also injected edge and emotion into the contest. Tempers briefly flared between Rizwan and Litton during the evening as delays around the sightscreen disrupted play, though Bangladesh’s bowlers maintained their discipline despite the mounting pressure.

As the partnership flourished, memories of Pakistan’s highest successful chase — 377 against Sri Lanka in 2015 — inevitably resurfaced. But Bangladesh, who have outplayed Pakistan for much of the series, eventually found the breakthrough they desperately needed.

Taijul once again proved decisive, deceiving Salman with a quicker arm-ball that skidded through the defence and crashed into the stumps. The wicket sparked jubilant celebrations among the Bangladesh players and supporters, who recognised the significance of the moment.

Two overs later, Hasan Ali edged to first slip off the second new ball, leaving Pakistan’s tail exposed heading into the final day.

Bangladesh pace bowling coach Shaun Tait admitted Pakistan had tested the hosts far more than expected but insisted his side remained firmly in command.

“We have had some great times recently with our bowlers and I think what happens then is you expect it every day,” Tait told reporters. “It was difficult conditions and Pakistan batted really well, but we stayed in the fight.

“Taking those two wickets towards the end means we go into the dressing room fairly happy. We’re still in a good position.”

Tait reserved special praise for Taijul’s workload in oppressive conditions and Litton’s wicket-keeping, particularly for Babar’s dismissal.

“Taijul came up with a warrior effort today,” he said. “And Litton has been fantastic behind the stumps over the last month.”

Pakistan batting coach Asad Shafiq, meanwhile, remained optimistic despite the precarious situation.

“There are still 120-odd runs left and the way Rizwan is batting gives us hope,” Asad said. “If this partnership can continue, we are still very much in the game.”

History, however, remains heavily stacked against Pakistan. No team has ever chased more than the West Indies’ 418 against Australia in Antigua in 2003, while Bangladesh now stand just three wickets away from another memorable milestone in what has rapidly become a defining period for their Test side.

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) 390 (Mushfiqur Rahim 137, Litton Das 69, Mahmudul Hasan 52; Khurram Shahzad 4-86, Sajid Khan 3-126, Hasan Ali 2-83)

PAKISTAN (2nd Innings, overnight 0-0):

Azan Awais lbw b Mehidy 21

Abdullah Fazal c Mehidy b Nahid 6

Shan Masood c Mahmudul b Taijul 71

Babar Azam c Litton b Taijul 47

Saud Shakeel c Litton b Nahid 6

Salman Ali Agha b Taijul 71

Mohammad Rizwan not out 75

Hasan Ali c Najmul b Taijul 0

Sajid Khan not out 8

EXTRAS (B-10, NB-1) 11

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 86 overs)316

STILL TO BAT: Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-27 (Abdullah), 2-41 (Azan), 3-133 (Babar), 4-154 (Saud), 5-162 (Shan), 6-296 (Salman), 7-304 (Hasan)

BOWLING: Taskin 9-1-41-0 (1nb); Shoriful 11-3-29-0; Nahid 14-2-58-2; Mehidy 20-1-62-1; Taijul 31-3-113-4; Mominul 1-0-3-0

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2026