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First Test hangs in balance as Bangladesh lose four early in second innings

The home side ended day three on 39/4 with a lead of 83 runs. Pacer Shaheen Shah bagged three in the final session to put Bangladesh on the backfoot

First Test hangs in balance as Bangladesh lose four early in second innings PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan looked to turn things into their favour as Bangladesh lose four wickets early after grabbing 44 runs lead in the first innings of the first Test at Chattogram.

The home side ended day three on 39/4 with a lead of 83 runs. Pacer Shaheen Shah bagged three in the final session to put Bangladesh on the backfoot.

Earlier, Taijul Islam starred as Bangladesh made a stunning comeback by dismissing Pakistan for 286 at Tea. Taijul took seven wickets and was the key man in providing Bangladesh lead in the first innings.

Pakistan, who resumed on 145-0 and looked set for a big total, suffered a setback very early when Taijul trapped debutant Abdullah Shafique leg-before in the fifth ball of the day.

Shafique walked back without adding to his overnight 52. Taijul dismissed veteran Azhar Ali for a duck on the next ball when the delivery hit him on the foot. Azhar was initially given not out but the decision was reversed on review.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam survived Taijul's hat-trick but Mehidy Hasan castled his off-stump with a straight delivery. Babar scored 10 runs only.

Taijul bagged his third wicket after Bangladesh went for a review as the umpire denied a caught-behind appeal of Fawad Alam (8). The replay showed the ball took a feather touch on Alam's glove.

The visitors were 203/4 at Lunch with Abid Ali batting at 113.

Ebadat Hossain removed Mohammad Rizwan (5) straight after Lunch while Taijul continued his dominance by trapping Abid Ali for LBW.

Abid Ali scored 133 off 282 balls with the help of 12 fours and two sixes. Hasan Ali came to bat in an aggressive mode but walked back after scoring eight-ball 12. Sajid Khan (5) was clean bowled by Ebadat to create further trouble for Pakistan.

Nauman Ali (8) also had a brief stay as Taijul trapped him in front. He reviewed straightly but the ball hit the pad first.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf added crucial runs while Shaheen Shah was steady from the other end during the last wicket stand.

Faheem scored 38 off 80 balls after he got a thin edge while executing a sweep off Taijul. Shaheen remained not-out on 13.

Left-arm spinner Taijul bowled a long spell of 44.4 overs, bagging seven for 116. Ebadat Hossain took 2/47 in 26 overs.

The visitors replied strongly with the ball in hand. Shaheen Shah took two wickets in the fifth over while Hasan Ali bagged one in the following over.

Shaheen trapped opener Shadman Islam (1) in front while Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) departed as Abdullah Shafique completed a clean catch at the slips.

Meanwhile, Azhar Ali leaned forward to grab an impressive catch of Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque (0) on the bowling of Hasan Ali.
 
Shaheen continued to impress as he stunned Saif Hasan (18) with a short ball to complete easy caught and bowl.

Bangladesh were 39/4 at stumps with Mushfiqur Rahim batting at 12 while debutant Yasir Ali was at 8.