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 Bangladesh 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.
Awais, however, fell shortly afterwards when he edged Taskin to Najmul Hossain at first slip. It ended his 104-run stand with fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal, as the pair provided only the third instance of two debutants having a century stand for Pakistan. It was Taskin's 50th Test wicket, and he became the third Bangladesh fast bowler to reach the mark after Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain.
Fazal, meanwhile, reached his maiden fifty in the 11th over of the morning when he pulled Taskin for a single. He struck Mehidy for a six, but Taskin returned at the other end to remove Shan Masood via Shadman Islam's sharp catch at point. Saud Shakeel was next to go when Mehidy trapped him lbw for a duck.
Mehidy then had Fazal driving uppishly towards mid-on, where Taijul Islam took the catch. Pakistan, who had by now lost four wickets for 20 runs, could have slipped further.
Taskin had Salman caught behind for a duck but he had overstepped. Bangladesh also reviewed when a caught-behind appeal against Rizwan was turned down, only to find out that Rizwan hadn't edged that ball.
Rizwan and Agha eventually survived the session, and went undefeated to the break after patiently scoring 8 and 12, respectively.
