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, who remains the last meaningful obstruction standing between the hosts and a landmark result.

Taijul Islam expected a tough fourth day despite burying their opponents under a mountain of runs. But it took a while for the spinner's prophecy to come true because the day in fact began with Bangladesh seemingly hurtling to a quick finish. Nahid Rana got proceedings off to a brisk start, removing opener Abdullah Fazal with a sharp short delivery that was lobbed to the fielder at gully off a mistimed pull. Mehidy Hasan Miraz followed that up swiftly, trapping Azan Awais in front of a delivery that kept its line and nipped back, the DRS review offering no salvation.

The stage seemed set for a swift collapse but the pitch was still playing good and Babar Azam and Shan Masood provided the most watchable batting of the series for the visitors. The pair were proactive from the off. 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, the final six overs of the first session yielded 46 runs as Pakistan's batting stood up in defiance.

But the partnership's sparkle proved short-lived. Taijul, tasked with the bulk of the load, 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, shaking his head in disbelief as he departed.

The afternoon soon became a horror show for the visitors. 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 from a worn surface, and the Pakistan captain's flick to leg looped invitingly, and Mahmudul Hasan Joy at short leg snapped up a sharp chance.

Bangladesh, sensing the finish line, were animated on the field. What followed, though, tested their patience. Rizwan and Salman Agha came together in a moment of crisis 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 - aggressive fields, rapid pace changes, probing spin from both ends. Agha and Rizwan ran hard between the wickets and used their feet decisively, refusing to surrender the initiative.

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

Then, in the final thirty minutes, Taijul struck twice with the second new ball to tilt the match decisively back. Having reached 71, Agha's defences were breached by an arm ball, setting off wild celebrations among the home side. Hasan Ali, then fell in the next Taijul over. Sajid Khan held firm for the next three overs to take the fight to a final day alongside the steadfast Rizwan.

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.