Bangladesh close in on series sweep despite Rizwan-Agha resistance

Bangladesh will go into the fifth morning of the Sylhet Test needing just three wickets to complete a historic 2-0 series whitewash of Pakistan, with the visitors clinging on at the close of Day 4 after a defiant rearguard that delayed, but might not deny the inevitable.

Pakistan ended the day at 316/7 in their second innings, still 121 runs adrift of the 437-run target with their flickering hopes resting firmly on Mohammad Rizwan, unbeaten on 75.

Taijul Islam expected a tough fourth day despite burying their opponents under a mountain of runs. The day began with Bangladesh seemingly hurtling to a quick finish. Nahid Rana removed opener Abdullah Fazal with a sharp short delivery that was lobbed to gully off a mistimed pull. Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped Azan Awais in front, the DRS review offering no salvation.

Babar Azam and Shan Masood provided the most watchable batting of the series. The former dispatched Taijul off the back foot for a boundary, while Masood unfurled a trio of elegant drives against Taskin Ahmed. The fifty partnership arrived in a flurry as Pakistan's batting stood up in defiance.

But the partnership's sparkle proved short-lived. Taijul produced an innocuous delivery angled down leg that Babar attempted to clip. Litton Das took a sharp catch to send the former Pakistan captain back for a well-made 47.

The afternoon soon became a horror show. Saud Shakeel fended at a full delivery from Rana and edged behind, and Masood's dismissal for 71 six balls later felt like the decisive blow. Taijul extracted extra bounce, and the Pakistan captain's flick looped invitingly, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy at short leg snapping up a sharp chance.

Bangladesh, sensing the finish line, were animated on the field. What followed tested their patience. Rizwan and Salman Agha came together and fashioned the most stubborn resistance Pakistan have mustered across either Test. For over three hours and 134 runs, they blunted a Bangladesh attack that threw everything at them. Agha and Rizwan ran hard between the wickets and used their feet decisively.

As the sixth-wicket stand flourished into the final hour, tensions spilled over with Litton taking visible exception to Rizwan's time-taking following sightscreen disturbances. But the pair did not buckle.

Then, in the final thirty minutes, Taijul struck twice with the second new ball. Having reached 71, Agha's defences were breached by an arm ball. Hasan Ali fell in the next Taijul over. Sajid Khan held firm alongside the steadfast Rizwan to take the fight to a final day.

Brief scores: Pakistan 232 & 316/7 (Mohammad Rizwan 75*, Salman Agha 71, Shan Masood 71; Taijul Islam 4-113) trail Bangladesh 278 & 390 by 121 runs.