Nahid Rana backs Mehidy Hasan Miraz after Bangladesh lead by 34 runs
Nahid Rana watched Mehidy Hasan Miraz turn the first Test in Dhaka on its head with five wickets on Sunday. Bangladesh ended the rain-hit third day 34 runs ahead after Pakistan were bowled out for 386.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz in Dhaka
Pakistan had already built resistance through Azan Awais, who resumed on 85 and reached 103 off 153 balls, and through a 119-run sixth-wicket stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha. Bangladesh still forced the innings to close at 386 in 100.3 overs, with Mehidy sending down 38 overs of off-spin and giving up little room for recovery.
That left Bangladesh with 413 from the first innings and a second-innings start that reached 7-0 before bad light ended play. Mahmudul Hasan Joy was two not out, while Shadman Islam had not scored, so the lead sat at 34 rather than something more comfortable.
Azan Awais on debut
Azan became the 14th Pakistani and the sixth player overall to score a century on debut against Bangladesh, and his reaction matched the moment. “It’s a very blessed feeling for me because I know it’s my debut match and I performed really well for my country,” he said after the innings. He added, “When I was going in to bat, I was a little nervous, but I performed very well for my team.”
Abdullah Fazal also made 60 on debut, giving Pakistan two debut batters who kept the reply alive long enough to put pressure back on Bangladesh after the first-innings total of 413.
Taskin Ahmed and bad light
Taskin Ahmed took his 50th Test wicket when Najmul Hossain Shanto caught Azan at slip, one of the deliveries that stopped Pakistan from pushing on after the century had been completed. Rain wiped out a large portion of the afternoon session, and the day ended the moment bad light took over.
Mehidy’s own read on the pitch points to Bangladesh’s next move. “On a true wicket like this, as a spinner, my mindset is that I will not get help from the pitch in the first three days,” he said. “If I bowl in good areas and the batter makes a mistake, then I have a chance of taking wickets. My job was to make sure I did not concede runs from one end.”
That leaves Bangladesh with a small lead and a clear plan: when the surface starts turning, Mehidy expects to attack rather than contain. “In the second innings, I will come as an attacking bowler when the ball is turning,” he said.
