Mehidy Hasan and Taskin Ahmed Wreck Pakistan Middle Order After Awais’ Debut Century

Pakistan 251 for 5 (Awais 103, Fazal 60, Mehidy 3-61, Taskin 2-61) trail Bangladesh 413 by 162 runs

Dramatic Morning Session Turns in Bangladesh’s Favor

What began as a day of promise for Pakistan quickly spiraled into frustration as Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed engineered a sharp turnaround on the third morning of the Test match. After the visitors reached a strong 210 for 1 overnight, they lost four wickets for just 20 runs, collapsing to 230 for 5 under relentless pressure from the home attack.

By the end of the session, Pakistan were 251 for 5, still trailing Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 413 by 162 runs. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha steadied the ship momentarily, but the damage had already been done. The momentum, once firmly in Pakistan’s grasp, now sits with Bangladesh.

Awais’ Century Provides Early Joy

Debutant Azan Awais resumed his innings on 85 and looked composed from the outset. He greeted Nahid Rana with two confident fours through the off side before steering a single off the fifth ball of the fifth over to reach his maiden Test century. The milestone prompted an emotional celebration — Awais punched the air and saluted the dressing room, visibly relieved after shouldering the responsibility of anchoring the innings.

With that boundary, Awais entered the record books as the 14th Pakistani batter to score a century on Test debut. He also became the third to achieve the feat against Bangladesh, joining the likes of Yasir Hameed and Shan Masood. His innings was also the second debut hundred at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, following Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker’s effort in 2023.

Bangladesh Strike Back Through Key Bowlers

Just when it seemed Pakistan might consolidate and take control, Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke through. The all-rounder, known for his control and subtle variations, removed the well-set Abdullah Shafique and Salman Ali Agha in quick succession, shifting the balance dramatically. His figures of 3 for 61 put him at the heart of Bangladesh’s fightback.

Taskin Ahmed, meanwhile, provided the crucial breakthrough of Azan Awais shortly after the century, exploiting the debutant’s post-milestone lapse in concentration. Taskin’s pace and precision accounted for two wickets, finishing the session with 2 for 61, and helping to dismantle the core of Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Pakistan’s Middle-Order Meltdown

From 210 for 1, Pakistan lost Sherfane Rutherford, Awais, and Sarfaraz Ahmed in rapid succession. Fazal Nadeem offered resistance with a gritty 60, but even his efforts couldn’t prevent the slide. The lack of sustained partnerships exposed fragility beyond the top order, raising concerns ahead of the next phase of the innings.

Rizwan, known for his resilience, remained unbeaten through the session, but faces the challenge of rebuilding with lower-order support. The deficit of 162 runs looms large, especially considering Bangladesh’s confidence after restricting the opposition’s momentum.

What’s Next?

As the match heads into the afternoon session, all eyes will be on Rizwan and the remaining batters to minimize the first-innings deficit. For Bangladesh, the bowling unit will look to capitalize on their regained momentum and push for a swift end to Pakistan’s innings before setting a challenging target.

With conditions still favorable for bowling and the game finely poised, the next few sessions could define the outcome of this Test encounter.