Mohammad Rizwan Pakistan is the last hope as Bangladesh close the Test series

Bangladesh were still building a steep hill above Pakistan after another thrilling Day 4 in Sylhet, where the visitors fought hard but were still in front of them in the closing innings. Chasing a firm target of 437, Pakistan ended the day at 316 for seven, needing 121 more runs with just three wickets in hand.

The day began with Bangladesh pushing for the early wickets, having already established a commanding lead with strong performances in both innings. Pakistan put up some initial resistance through their top order, with Shan Masood and Babar Azam (47) combining for important contributions to steady the innings after early setbacks. However, Bangladesh continued to strike at regular intervals to maintain control of the match.

Bangladesh vs Pakistan 2nd Test Day 4: Highlights | Scorecard

The key turning point came when Pakistan’s middle order tried to rebuild the chase. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha put up a crucial 134-run partnership that briefly revived the visitors’ hopes. Rizwan in particular played with patience and control, anchoring the innings in the batting rotation and keeping Pakistan’s slim chances alive.

However, the Bangladesh bowlers, led by Taijul Islam and supported by Nahid Rana, responded strongly whenever the partnership began to develop. Taijul broke the crucial stand by dismissing Agha for 71, shifting the momentum firmly back in Bangladesh’s favour. From there, Pakistan’s lower middle order struggled to maintain consistency under pressure.

MOHAMMAD RIZWAN HARD FIGHT

The stumps left Rizwan unbeaten on 75 and stood as Pakistan’s last great hope heading into the final day. His resistance was a standout feature in an otherwise fragile batting, but the equation remains extremely difficult for the visitors. With just three wickets remaining, Pakistan are looking to record the most successful run-chase in Test history.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, are on the verge of completing the series 2-0 and have dominated crucial stages in both Tests. Their bowlers consistently produced breakthroughs at crucial moments, while their defensive intensity ensured that Pakistan never gained any sustained momentum.

As the match heads into its final day, Bangladesh have all the upper hand, while Pakistan’s hopes rest almost entirely on Rizwan producing an extraordinary lone resistance to delay what looks like inevitable defeat.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

19 May 2026 21:56 IST