Late resistance from Pakistan delays Bangladesh’s march to series sweep

Rizwan and Agha frustrate the hosts, but Bangladesh stand on the brink of another landmark series triumph

Bangladesh edged to the doorstep of history on a tense fourth day in Sylhet, retaining a firm grip on the second Test despite a stubborn Pakistani fightback led by Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha.

With Pakistan chasing 437, the hosts ripped through the visitors’ batting order on Tuesday before a defiant 134-run stand between Rizwan (75) and Agha (71) dragged the contest into a fifth day.

Bangladesh need only three more wickets to complete another memorable 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan.

Pakistan closed on 316 for 7, still 121 runs short, with Rizwan unbeaten on a resolute 75.

For much of the day, Bangladesh’s bowlers hunted relentlessly on a wearing Sylhet surface.

Nahid Rana’s pace, Taijul Islam’s relentless accuracy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s probing spin repeatedly forced Pakistan into survival mode.

The collapse began early. Rana struck first with a short ball that Abdullah Fazal gloved towards gully, where a low catch was brilliantly held inches above the turf.

Soon after, Miraz trapped Azan Awais in front, the opener’s desperate review unable to overturn the decision.

Pakistan counterattacked briefly through Shan Masood (71) and Babar Azam (47).

Masood unfurled elegant drives against Taskin Ahmed, while Babar finally found fluency, punching Taijul through the off side and attacking the seamers with rare authority. Their brisk stand briefly shifted momentum before Bangladesh’s spinners pulled the game back under control.

Taijul delivered the breakthrough Bangladesh craved.

Babar, looking comfortable until then, carelessly feathered a leg-side delivery through to Litton Das, leaving the former Pakistan captain staring back in disbelief.

Moments later, Nahid forced Saud Shakeel into edging behind before Taijul dismissed Masood with extra bounce, Mahmudul Hasan Joy pouching a sharp short-leg catch.

At that stage, Pakistan appeared to be collapsing towards defeat.

But Rizwan and Agha refused to surrender. Mixing caution with calculated aggression, the pair resisted for more than three hours, advancing down the pitch to the spinners and rotating strike cleverly to blunt Bangladesh’s pressure.

Tension simmered late in the evening when Litton confronted Rizwan over repeated delays linked to movement around the sightscreen, adding edge to an already intense contest.

Just when frustration threatened to creep into Bangladesh’s camp, Taijul struck again. His skidding arm ball shattered Agha’s stumps in the closing stages, sparking roaring celebrations around the ground.