Heavy rain and deteriorating light frustrated both sides on the penultimate day in Mirpur, as Bangladesh reached 152-3 at early stumps in the first Test against Pakistan.
Despite a significant loss of play, the hosts extended their overall lead to 179 runs, leaving the first Test poised for a high-stakes final day.
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque spearheaded the effort before the weather intervened.
Shanto, following his clinical first-innings century, remains unbeaten on 58. He found a reliable partner in Mominul, who struck 56 before falling late in the day.
Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim (16) navigated a tricky final period to keep the visitors at bay before the umpires called off play early due to visibility concerns.
A major portion of the day was lost to a monsoon downpour that drenched the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The delay hampered Bangladesh’s efforts to set a rapid target and denied Pakistan’s seamers the chance to exploit the overcast conditions.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Abbas each claimed a wicket, but the lack of consistent play prevented the visitors from building sustained pressure.
Bangladesh’s 413 in the first innings, anchored by Shanto’s 101, remains the benchmark of the contest of the Dhaka Test.
Pakistan’s response of 386 was highlighted by debutant Azan Awais’s patient 103, but a dramatic collapse – triggered by Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 14th five-wicket haul – handed the hosts a 27-run cushion.
Milestones have defined this encounter. Earlier in the match, Taskin Ahmed became only the third Bangladeshi pacer to reach 50 Test wickets, a feat last achieved by a local seamer in 2009.
With a lead of 179 and only one day remaining, Bangladesh face a tactical dilemma. The deteriorating Mirpur track traditionally favours the hosts' spin duo of Miraz and Taijul Islam in the fourth innings.
However, the time lost to rain may force Shanto into an aggressive declaration early on Day 5 to give his bowlers enough overs to secure a victory.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
