Tait thinks Bangladesh will ‘bowl out’ Pakistan as Sylhet Test moves into final day

Pakistan finished the fourth day of the Sylhet Test on 316/7, leaving them 121 runs away from victory. But those 121 runs are likely to be a huge hurdle for them as the visitors only have three wickets in hand.

Tait backs Bangladesh bowlers to finish the job

Bangladesh bowling coach Shaun Tait believes it would not be a difficult task for the hosts to get the remaining Pakistan batters out before they can score the required runs.

"Well, I think we'll bowl them out on the fifth day," Tait said after stumps on day four. "We have been bowling well generally, so I think what happens then is that you expect it every day. It doesn't always work that way. We are in a good position now. It was a very hot day, so the conditions were difficult. The wicket became really good. These are not excuses. I think if you look at it now, we're in a good position."

Pakistan began the day far behind Bangladesh with a daunting 437-run target ahead of them. But that became marginally more probable after the visiting batters stitched together two partnerships. First, Babar Azam and Shan Masood added 92 runs off just 115 balls, giving Pakistan’s run rate a boost. After the two batters fell, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan kept the scorecard ticking as they amassed 134 runs to bring Pakistan back into the contest.

Late breakthroughs swing momentum back

The partnership was broken by Taijul Islam’s intelligent use of the new ball as it breached Salman’s defence. Hasan Ali’s wicket followed soon after, and Bangladesh were once again in full control.

Tait said that is how he expects Test cricket to behave, with the last session capable of drastically changing the dynamics, as it did on the fourth day. Despite that, Bangladesh’s bowling coach praised Pakistan for mounting a strong comeback, which, however briefly, extended their lifeline.

"I tell you what: there was some excitement in the dugout when that run-out chance was so close," Tait said. "We thought that was the breakthrough we needed, and then it came through Taijul. We were not tense, but excited.

"I think if you watch Test cricket enough, you can see that it can change really quickly in the latter part of the day. We talk about staying in the contest as long as possible, because you don't know what can happen, right?

"So, if you bowl well enough, you stay in the contest long enough throughout the day. You hope that in the last session, you can pinch a couple of wickets, which I suppose we did. I know there are people who came here today expecting the game to be over, but Pakistan played really well today."

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