Debutant Azan Awais marked his arrival in international cricket with a memorable century, but Mehidy Hasan Miraz produced a superb five-wicket haul to keep narrowly ahead of on an absorbing third day of the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Bangladesh closed the day on 7-0 in their second innings, stretching their overall lead to 34 runs after bowling Pakistan out for 386 in reply to their first-innings total of 413.
Only 11 deliveries were possible after the innings break before fading light forced umpires Richard Kettleborough and Kumar Dharmasena to call an early end to play.
The day, however, belonged as much to Pakistan’s young debutant Azan as it did to Bangladesh spinner Mehidy, with momentum swinging repeatedly in a gripping contest in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 clash.
Resuming on 179-1 overnight, Pakistan looked well placed thanks to the unbroken partnership between Azan and fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal.
The pair continued confidently in the morning session, frustrating Bangladesh’s bowlers with disciplined shot selection and calm temperament on a surface beginning to offer more assistance to spin.
Azan brought up a remarkable century on Test debut, becoming one of the few Pakistan batters to achieve the feat in Bangladesh. The left-handed opener displayed maturity well beyond his age during a composed innings of 103 from 165 deliveries, striking 14 boundaries.
His century partnership with Abdullah Fazal helped Pakistan move into a strong position before fast bowler Taskin Ahmed eventually broke through shortly after the milestone.
Azan’s dismissal triggered a dramatic middle-order collapse as Bangladesh clawed their way back into the match. Pakistan lost three wickets at regular intervals, including the key wicket of Abdullah Fazal, who battled hard for a valuable 60 before falling to Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
At 230-5, Pakistan were suddenly under pressure again, but vice-captain Salman Ali Agha and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan steadied the innings with a crucial counter-attacking stand.
The pair added 119 runs for the sixth wicket in what proved to be Pakistan’s most important partnership of the innings after the opening stand.
Rizwan mixed caution with aggression during his fluent 59 off 79 balls, hitting eight fours before left-arm spinner Taijul Islam dismissed him late in the second session to hand Bangladesh another breakthrough before tea.
Agha continued to resist with a determined 58 from 94 deliveries, including six boundaries and a six, but Pakistan’s hopes of taking a first-innings lead faded quickly once he was dismissed by express pacer Nahid Rana early in the final session.
Pakistan’s lower order managed only limited resistance as Bangladesh wrapped up the innings for 386, securing a slender but potentially crucial 27-run lead.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the standout performer for Bangladesh with figures of 5-102 from 38 overs, while Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam claimed two wickets each. Nahid Rana also chipped in with one wicket.
With all 10 second-innings wickets intact and a narrow lead already established, Bangladesh will look to tighten their grip on the first Test against Pakistan heading into day four in Dhaka.
