Pakistan 251 for 5 (Awais 103, Fazal 60, Mehidy 3-61, Taskin 2-61) trail Bangladesh 413 by 162 runs
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed sparked Pakistan’s batting collapse on the third morning. The visitors were comfortably placed at 210 for 1 before suddenly slipping to 230 for 5. Pakistan eventually ended the first session on 251 for 5, with Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha holding fort, and were trailing by 162 runs.
Mehidy took three wickets while Taskin picked up two as the hosts fought back after a difficult second day. Pakistan, in fact, had started the third morning very well. Debutant Azan Awais, unbeaten overnight on 85, struck two fours off Nahid Rana. He reached his maiden Test century in the fifth over of the session, when he pushed Nahid into the off side for a single. Awais’ celebration was one of relief, as he punched the air, and waved his bat towards the dressing room.
Awais became the 14th Pakistan batter to reach a century on debut, and the third to do so against Bangladesh. It was also the second debut century at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, after Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker had made one in 2023.
