ABDULLAH AL MEHDI

Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq remarked after Day 2 of the first Test against Bangladesh that “the beauty of Tests is how there always remains a chance to bounce back.”

At the end of Day 3 yesterday, Mehidy Hasan Miraz echoed that sentiment after helping Bangladesh wrest back control with his 14th Test fifer, combining brilliantly with pacer Taskin Ahmed.

Pakistan had raced to 179 for one in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings 413 after dominating Day 2. But by stumps on Day 3, Bangladesh had bundled the visitors out for 386 and moved to seven without loss in their second innings, holding a 34-run lead.

Miraz may have claimed the lion’s share of wickets, but it was Taskin’s incisive morning spell that shifted the momentum, even after Pakistan had continued their dominance in the opening session.

Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal resumed confidently, extending Pakistan’s solid third-wicket stand. Nahid Rana’s opening burst showed that pace alone would not be enough to force a breakthrough. Taskin was introduced in the seventh over of the day and showed intent right away, as Fazal edged his first delivery between wicketkeeper and slip.

Yet that was only the beginning of what proved to be his most impactful spell of the Test.

“I would love to bowl at 145 kph or more, but it is not my time to do that anymore. I do not need it. 138-140 is good enough for me,” Taskin had told this reporter ahead of the series.

As it turned out, he needed even less.

After struggling with injuries in recent months, the Pakistan Tests were Taskin’s own call, and on Day 3 he made that decision count. Having sprayed the ball around on the green Mirpur surface a day earlier, he adapted smartly, sacrificing express pace for control.

Most of his deliveries hovered in the 127-130 kph range. Instead of speed, he relied on disciplined lengths, extracting bounce and seam movement from the grassy track.

Azan, already on a hundred on his debut and looking set for a much bigger score, fell victim to Taskin’s subtle setup. The first ball of Taskin’s second over was back of a length and angled across, which Azan defended. The next came tighter into the body, drawing a slight inside edge to mid-on. A third delivery, again on a tighter line, pushed him further back.

Then came the trap. Taskin went slightly wider, tempting Azan into a loose drive, and Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto completed the catch at first slip.

During that opening spell, Taskin and Miraz conceded just 27 runs in 13 overs. Taskin soon removed Pakistan skipper Shan Masood, while Miraz struck twice. Taskin could have had Salman Agha too, but a no-ball spared the batter. Even so, Pakistan collapsed from 210 for one to 230 for five during that decisive partnership.

Miraz then capitalised on the pressure created by Taskin, claiming five for 102 on a surface offering little turn and proving his own adaptability.

“It made things much easier for me when he [Taskin] picked up those two wickets. Our partnership was vital. If one end wasn’t kept tight and runs were flowing freely, the batsmen would just look to rotate the strike comfortably. Because Taskin kept his end incredibly tight, the batsmen tried to attack me to score runs, and that is exactly how they ended up getting out.”