Both openers back in the hut as Pakistan chase record target

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana gave his side the perfect start on the fourth morning of the second Test against Pakistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, breaking the opening stand and putting immediate pressure on the visitors in their pursuit of a record target.

Pakistan resumed the day at 0 without loss in their second innings, with openers Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal cautiously negotiating the early overs. The pair added 27 runs before Rana made the breakthrough, removing Fazal for 6 off 28 balls.

Fazal’s dismissal came when he attempted to guide a short, rising delivery outside off-stump towards the off side. The ball took the upper part of the bat and carried low to gully, where Mehidy Hasan Miraz completed a sharp catch. The on-field decision was briefly checked, but the dismissal stood as a clean catch.

Miraz then removed Azan Awais (21 off 49), the centurion in the first Test, for lbw after decision review returned umpire's call.

The visitors were 41 for two at that time. Since then skipper Shan Masood (41) and Babar Azam (24) put on a healthy partnership of 60 unbroken runs to put Pakistan in some sort of control.

The visitors were 101 for two at lunch, still 336 runs away from the target.

Bangladesh had earlier posted 390 in their second innings — their fifth-highest total in a Test second innings — setting Pakistan a daunting target of 437.

The task remains historic, with the highest successful Test chase in history being 418 by West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003. Pakistan’s best chase stands at 377 against Sri Lanka in 2015, a match featuring current captain Shan Masood and coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as players.