Tigers in sight of historic Pakistan sweep

SYLHET, Bangladesh, May 19 (Agencies): Bangladesh are three wickets away from a famous Test series win at home after spinner Taijul Islam took 4-113 to rattle Pakistan despite a rearguard by the opposition batters on Tuesday.

Pakistan ended day four on 316-7, needing another 121 runs for victory in what would be a record chase of 437 on the fifth and final day in Sylhet.

Mohammad Rizwan, on 75, and Sajid Khan, on eight, were unbeaten at the close of play.

Left-arm spinner Taijul struck key blows, including Babar Azam for 47 and Salman Agha on 71, to keep Bangladesh in the hunt for their first-ever Test series win over Pakistan at home.

Bangladesh, who won the opener of the two-match series, also closed in on back-to-back Test series victories over Pakistan -- having whitewashed them 2-0 on Pakistani soil in 2024.

Pakistan slumped to 162-5 and were heading towards a tame defeat before Rizwan and Agha put on 134 runs to raise hopes of Test cricket's highest chase.

West Indies currently hold the record for the 418 they scored to beat Australia in Antigua in 2003, while Pakistan have never successfully chased more than 377.

Pakistan lost their overnight openers early before captain Shan Masood and Azam steadied the ship with a counter-attacking partnership that guided them to 101-2 at lunch.

But the afternoon session shifted the momentum back in the hosts' favour. Bangladesh removed Azam after wicket-keeper Litton Das took a stunning catch behind the stumps off Taijul.

Nahid Rana then cleaned up Saud Shakeel with a wide yorker for just six, and Taijul snared Masood for a determined 71, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy taking a sharp catch at short leg.

Pakistan slipped to 200-5 at tea, but it was the stubborn sixth-wicket stand between Rizwan and Agha that frustrated Bangladesh.

But Taijul then deceived Agha with a well-disguised arm ball to rattle his stumps and Hasan Ali fell without scoring two overs later, caught by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto at first slip.

Rizwan and Sajid then batted out the remaining overs.

However, Bangladesh pace bowling coach Shaun Tait remained confident the side would get over the line on day five.

"I think we'll bowl them out. I hope," he said.

"Our guys stayed in the fight, stayed in the contest. They got on top of us for a period of time but to take those two wickets towards the end -- we went into the changing rooms fairly happy."

Pakistan batting coach Asad Shafiq said: "I have a lot of hope because of the way we responded as a batting unit today. If this partnership between Rizwan and Sajid goes long, I am very optimistic."

Given the form of Bangladesh's bowling unit, the hosts were expected to wrap up the series inside four days. But Pakistan fought back strongly to keep the contest alive. Bangladesh still hold the advantage, needing three wickets on the final day, while the visitors require another 121 runs.

"We have had some great times recently with our bowlers and I think what happens then is you expect it every day. And it doesn't always work that way," Tait told reporters after the day's play. "I think they bowled good enough to put us in a good position now. It was difficult, you know, and it was very hot. I felt like today was the hottest day as well.

"It was some good cricket played on both sides. They batted really well and the wicket was a pretty good one for batting and that's not an excuse," he added. "I guess our guys stayed in the fight, stayed in the contest. They got on top of us for a period of time but I think by taking those two wickets towards the end we go into the change rooms fairly happy with that. If you look at it now, we're in a good position."

Tait was particularly impressed with Litton Kumar Das behind the stumps, especially after the wicketkeeper pulled off a sharp catch down the leg side off Taijul Islam to dismiss the dangerous-looking Babar Azam. The Australian said quality wicketkeeping made a significant difference to the bowlers.

"How tidy he is behind the stumps has been fantastic of late in general, especially over the last month. We've mentioned it in the change rooms after games actually," said Tait. "We've given him a bit of praise for the way he's been keeping because it makes a huge difference and there's no doubt about that."

Tait also lauded Taijul Islam's effort in testing conditions, describing the left-arm spinner's performance as a "warrior effort". "Taijul came up with a warrior effort today. In this heat, to bowl all day and to hang in at the end and also take the new ball, like you said, to take those wickets for us at the end there, it was fantastic," he said.

The former Australia pacer also enjoyed the intensity and theatre of the fourth day's play, particularly as Pakistan stitched together crucial partnerships through Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan. Rizwan was also involved in a few verbal exchanges with Litton Das, adding further spice to the contest.

"I enjoy it. I'm Australian - so yeah, that probably says a lot. I love it. There's got to be some argy-bargy. You don't want to cross the line, we all talk about that, but you have to have a bit of aggression," said Tait.

"It's Test cricket - Pakistan vs Bangladesh. For the fans, for all of us, you want to see passion in the game. Some guys in a contest trying to get each other out, trying to stay in the contest. I love it," he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan batting coach Asad Shafiq remained optimistic about their chances of chasing down the remaining 121 runs despite having only three wickets in hand, with Rizwan still unbeaten at the crease.

"If you see today's batting performance of our batting unit, we are really hopeful. There are 120-odd runs left and the way Rizwan is batting, and the way Sajid played in the first innings, we are really hopeful," said Shafiq.

Shafiq, however, admitted Pakistan were paying the price for failing to convert promising starts into substantial scores. "In Test matches we expect from our batting unit that they will score hundreds and double hundreds. But unfortunately it is not being converted from fifty to a hundred. I am sure everyone is thinking and working on it.

"Rizwan is currently on 75 and God willing, if he converts this into a hundred, it will be good for the team. We have already discussed this and will discuss further how we can improve our conversion rate," he added.