PAK vs BAN | Nahid-Hasan rip through fragile Pakistan as Tigers inch closer to historic whitewash

Resuming from an overnight score of 9/2, Pakistan skipper Shan Masood joined the incumbent batter Saim Ayub in the middle to begin Day 4. The pair capitalized on the lack of swing on offer and began flamboyantly, stroking six boundaries within the first half hour of play. However, Saim once again threw away the good start with a loose drive off Taskin Ahmed in the 13th over that was caught exceptionally by Najmul Hossain Shanto low to his left at extra cover. The Bangla skipper took advantage of the break in momentum to bring Nahid Rana into the attack, hoping to trouble the hosts with raw pace on an otherwise flat track. The move paid off brilliantly as the quick had Masood, Babar Azam, and Saud Shakeel caught behind the stumps in successive overs. Rana even extracted the outside edge off Mohammad Rizwan on the very first ball but Shadman Islam failed to hold onto a routine catch in the cordon. The wicket-keeper batter grasped the lifeline with both hands, despite a blow to the head from Rana, to form a stable partnership with Salman Agha and take the team to Lunch at 117/6 with the partnership reading 26.

Upon resumption, Shanto handed the ball to Hasan Mahmud after a couple of overs from Rana, and the right-arm quick instantly repaid the faith by having Rizwan nick behind on 43 and then dispatching Mohammad Ali for a golden duck. Salman tried to farm strike thereafter but Rana made light work of Abrar as soon as he got the opportunity, forcing the all-rounder to be even more strict with strike rotation. He began connecting his boundary efforts at an increasing frequency and had taken the team total to 172 when Hasan wrapped up a five-wicket haul by getting Mir Hamza caught at slip to set the Tigers a target of 185.

Real deal

It’s been a tough run for Babar Azam in the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle so far.  

— A7 (@AShukla454092) 

Good pace

 in his first 3 overs today:



First over - Dismissed Shan Masood.

Second over - Dismissed .

Third over - Dismissed Saud Shakeel.



3 for 12 in just 3 overs. Should've dismissed Rizwan too if not for the dropped catch.



The fastest bowler of the match… 

— Zohaib Sajjad (@FxZaibi48199) 

Historic

Andre Adams might not have been a big star, but judging coaches by their intl career is folly. Under his watch, Hasan Mahmud’s a transformed Test bowler, Nahid Rana’s raw pace is causing havoc. Our pacers now bring fear with bounce & swing. Adams deserves the credit.  

— Sheikh Rakeen (@rakeenteur) 

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