Bangladesh tightened its grip on the second test against Pakistan after a disciplined batting and bowling performance on the second day Sunday, turning the match into a controlled display of pressure and denial. Opener Mahmudul Hasan hit 52 to help Bangladesh reach 110-3, extending its overall lead to 156 runs at stumps. Earlier, fast bowler Nahid Rana and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed three wickets apiece to wrap up Pakistan’s first innings for 232, giving Bangladesh a 46-run lead in bowling-friendly conditions.
Who Gets Put Under Pressure
Pakistan’s innings was repeatedly broken by Bangladesh’s attack, with the visitors resuming Sunday at 21 without loss and then losing wickets in clusters. Taskin Ahmed and offspinner Mehidy Hasan shared four wickets to leave Pakistan in trouble. Taskin (2-37) dismissed openers Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais in his first two overs of the day, putting Bangladesh on the front foot and forcing Pakistan into recovery mode almost immediately.
Abdullah Fazal, fresh from his twin half-centuries in the first test, edged a delivery behind after scoring 9. Taskin then swung one past Awais, a centurion in the first test, who pushed the delivery to short-leg when on 13. Captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam temporarily stalled the slide before Mehidy (2-21) ended the 38-run partnership when Masood hit a short ball straight to the fielder at short cover for 21. Mehidy then also dismissed Saud Shakeel (8), leaving Babar with significant work to do to keep Pakistan in the match.
What the Bowlers Took Away
Nahid, fresh from his five-wicket haul in Bangladesh’s 104-run victory in the first test, was instrumental in denying Pakistan a first-innings lead. He dismissed star batter Babar Azam, who made a team-best 68 on his return, before breaking the resistance of Sajid Khan (38) to wrap up the Pakistan innings. Babar got support from Salman Agha as they appeared comfortable in negotiating Bangladesh bowlers after the early trouble. Babar hit pacer Shoriful for a boundary to raise his 31st fifty off 63 balls and looked to be in control until Nahid produced a delivery that unsettled him. Babar, who struck 10 boundaries in his 84-ball knock, chipped straight to Mushfiqur Rahim after being baffled by the clever variation of pace from Nahid, ending the 63-run partnership with Agha.
“We started well, but we could not build long partnerships,” said Babar. “Me and Salman Agha were trying to build one in the middle, but unfortunately we could not continue it. In test cricket, you need two or three good partnerships.”
Taijul got into the act with the wicket of Agha, who made 21, before dismissing Mohammad Rizwan and Hasan as Pakistan lost three wickets in quick succession. Sajid Khan then took the side past 200 by attacking the Bangladesh bowlers. Nahid came back to end Khan’s 28-ball 38, laced with two fours and four sixes, and wrap up the Pakistan innings. The scoreboard told the rest of the story: Pakistan had been contained, then dismantled, then left chasing the game.
Bangladesh Keeps the Advantage
Despite losing Tanzid Hasan early in the innings, Bangladesh kept its nose in front through a 76-run stand for the second wicket between Mahmudul and Mominul Haque. Mahmudul reached his sixth fifty before pacer Mohammad Abbas broke the partnership. Khurram Shahzad removed Mominul (30) with the last ball of the day, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was batting on 13 at stumps.
Nahid said the opening spell mattered most. “Taskin and Shoriful (Islam) are bowling with a lot of discipline and partnership in the beginning,” he said. “When there is pressure and runs are not coming, batters think a lot and play wrong shots. They tried to take that advantage and succeeded.”
The match now sits with Bangladesh in command after a second day built on disciplined bowling, pressure, and the refusal to let Pakistan establish the kind of partnerships that might have shifted control back to the other side.