1st Test: Shaheen Afridi helps Pakistan claw back after Taijul Islam stars with 7-wicket haul for Bangladesh

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi tore into the Bangladesh top-order picking up 3 wickets and restricting the hosts to 39/4 at Stumps on Day 3 of their first Test in Chattogram. Bangladesh had secured a 44-run first-innings lead but they went to close of play with only an 86-run advantage.

Bangladesh would have hoped to end Sunday’s play on a high after bowling out Pakistan for 286 in their first innings but Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali troubled the top-order with the new ball in the final hour of the day’s play.

Mushfiqur Rahim, who made 91 in the first innings, was batting on 12 and Yasir Ali on 8 after surviving several close calls.

Bangladesh vs Pakistan, 1st Test Day 3 Highlights

Abid Ali went on to hit his hundred on Sunday but Pakistan suffered a collapse after a strong start from their openers. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam returned figures of 7/116 as Pakistan lost their last 7 wickets for just 104 runs.

Shaheen Afridi cracked the game open, striking twice in his third over of the Bangladesh second innings. He trapped Shadman leg-before for 1 with a ball that swung sharply and then two balls later had Najmul Hossain caught at first slip for a duck with a short ball.

His short ball again worked for him when opener Saif Hasan gave the return catch and was dismissed for 14.
Ali also got into the act, dismissing captain Mominul Haque for a duck with a leading edge, leaving Bangladesh on 25-4.

Taijul Islam rocks Pakistan batting unit

Earlier, Taijul pegged back the Pakistan innings after the visitors began the day on 145 for no loss. Opener Abid Ali top-scored with 133 off 282, hitting 12 fours and two sixes.

Taijul struck in the first over of the day, dismissing Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali via review with consecutive deliveries. Shafique couldn’t add any runs to his overnight total of 52.

Abid, who started the day on 93, flicked Taijul past square leg for a couple to reach his fourth century off 209 balls.

Skipper Babar Azam appeared to be in control before offspinner Mehidy Hasan’s (1-68) quicker delivery rattled his stump for 10.

Taijul used his flight and variation well to curb the aggression of Pakistan’s batsmen and reaped the rewards again when he spun one sharply to dismiss Fawad Alam (8), also via review. He also got the key wicket of Abid Ali, who had used his feet nicely against the Bangladeshi spinners, and then dismissed Hasan Ali for his ninth and second consecutive five-for.

Fahim Ashraf kept Pakistan in the game, guiding the lower order before he was dismissed as the last batsman for 38.