Mominul, Shanto eye a first-innings repeat as Pakistan slow down after two early wickets

So far, the second innings is following the same first-innings pattern, where the openers departing early to Pakistan’s pacers had left Bangladesh in a lurch. 

Mominul, Shanto steady the run

However, their next two batters, who did the bulk of the scoring in the first innings, steadied things from slipping into Pakistan’s hands. At lunch on day four, Bangladesh batters Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto had taken the lead to 120 runs.

While it began on a surface with plenty of green, this Test has not given much to the bowlers to work with. Mohammad Abbas and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have grabbed five wickets each in their respective spells so far, but taking wickets has generally been hard. 

After his team limited Pakistan to 29 runs short of Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 413, Mehidy said the game is still evenly poised.

Still a fifty-fifty chance

"We still have two days remaining in the Test, but the situation is fifty-fifty at the moment since we didn't take a big enough lead," Mehidy said after taking 5 for 102 in Pakistan's first innings. "We have to bat responsibly, as you never know what score is safe on the Mirpur wicket. I think we should get a lead close to 300 runs at least. The wicket may be harder to bat on the fourth and fifth days. Our batters have to show responsibility."

There have been a few rain delays as well, which have made things trickier for both sides. A 300-run lead would obviously be the least desired outcome for Pakistan at this point, but with only one day left, if Bangladesh want a result, they would look to wrap things up as quickly as they can.

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