Bangladesh ended day four of the first Test in Dhaka with a 179-run lead over Pakistan, reaching 152-3 in their second innings after rain washed out nearly three hours of the afternoon session on Monday. Najmul Hossain Shanto was 58 not out at stumps, with Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 16.
Bangladesh had resumed on 7-0 and lost Mahmudul Hasan Joy for five before Shadman Islam fell for 10, leaving them 23-2. Shanto and Mominul Haque then steadied the innings with a stand of 105 off 193 balls for the third wicket, before Mominul departed for 56 after reaching 5,000 Test runs when he got to his half-century off 102 balls.
The match had already been shaped by Bangladesh's first-innings 413, built around Shanto's 101, Mominul's 91 and Mushfiqur's 71. Pakistan replied with 386 after Azan made a century on debut, while Mohammad Abbas took 5-92. Pakistan had elected to field, and the first Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium has stayed tight ever since.
Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Ashraful said the side was playing to win and believed there would be enough time for a result if the weather held. He said that if Bangladesh could bowl 70-75 overs on the final day and there was no rain, they would have a chance to play 98 overs and push for victory. That view fits the shape of the match now: Bangladesh have the lead, Pakistan have the overs left, and the weather may still decide how much of the contest survives.
