Bangladesh extended their lead to 120 runs with eight wickets remaining at lunch on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday, reports Daily Sun.
The hosts reached 92 for two at the interval, with Mominul Haque unbeaten on 37 off 82 balls and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto batting on 34 off 57.
Bangladesh had resumed the morning on seven for no wicket, leading by 34 runs, but the two openers fell cheaply in the early exchanges.
Mohammad Abbas struck first to remove Mahmudul Hasan Joy for five before Hasan Ali accounted for Shadman Islam for 10, leaving the hosts in a precarious position at 23 for two.
Shanto then joined Mominul at the crease and the left-handed pair, who had put on a record 170-run third wicket partnership in the first innings, wasted little time in rebuilding.
The duo added an unbroken 70 runs off 122 balls to guide Bangladesh to a commanding position by lunch.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh's first innings of 413 had been built around Shanto's brisk 101 — his ninth Test century — Mominul's 91 and Mushfiqur Rahim's gritty birthday 71. Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas claimed 5 for 92 while Shaheen Shah Afridi took 3 for 113.
In reply, debutant Azan Awais top-scored with 103 while fellow first-timer Abdullah Fazal made 60 to lay a solid foundation. Salman Ali Agha contributed 58 and Mohammad Rizwan added 50 as Pakistan came close to Bangladesh's total before Mehidy Hasan Miraz's five-wicket haul restricted the visitors to 386, handing Bangladesh a 27-run first innings lead.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
