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Pkn-Bdesh: Is This The One?

Friday, September 5 2003

Career-best returns from Mohammad Rafique and Khaled Mahmud took Bangladesh to touching distance of a Test victory on a remarkable 18-wicket day at Multan, but Pakistan fought back strongly.

Resuming on 248/6, Khaled Mashud (29) was caught behind off the first ball of the day. Skipper Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Rafique added another thirty before the fireworks began in earnest as Shabbir Ahmed (3/70) cleared up the tail for 281. Umar Gul ended with 4/86 but the two young quicks delivered 12 no-balls between them.

Khaled Mahmud took heart from the conditions that encouraged disciplined seam bowling and within fourteen overs had three Pakistanis back in the pavilion, with a combination of rash strokeplay and controlled line and length their undoing.

A stand of 71 between Yasir Hameed and Younis Khan looked to have ended the Tigers' insurgence but once again Mahmud struck, with Younis Khan (34) tickling one down the leg side.

This was the cue for left-armer Mohammad Rafique - last week having recorded the best figures in Tests by a Bangladeshi with 6/77 - to demolish the lower order, taking 5/36 off 17.4 overs, with all of wickets either bowled or LBW as one Pakistani after another failed to read his arm ball.

Tapash Baisya took the other wicket and skipper Mahmud, who ended with career-best figures of 4/37, now has 8 wickets at 23.62 this series after having only one at 406 beforehand as Pakistan were bowled out for 175, a lead of 106 and the first time that Bangladesh had knocked a side over for less than 200.

The bowlers were well and truly on top by now and Hannan Sarkar and Habibul Bashar were both caught behind off Umar Gul for 3 before Mohammad Ashraful fell to Shabbir Ahmed, also for 3, who then removed Javed Omar (16) to leave the Tigers in trouble at 41/4.

Rajin Saleh and Alok Kapali then showed some fight and dragged the match back towards the visitors. Rajin struck six fours in his 29* and Kapali three in his 17 before being struck on the helmet as he mis-hooked a Shabbir bouncer. The ball sneaked through the grille and bloodied the eye of the young all-rounder who then retired hurt. Skipper Mahmud (2*) saw the side to the close at 77/4 - 183 runs ahead with six second innings wickets still intact.

With three full days to play, is, at long last, going to be their match?

Bangladesh 281 (Habibul Bashar 72, Rajin Saleh 49, Umar Gul 4/86, Shabbir Ahmed 3/70

Pakistan 175 (Mohammad Rafique 5/36, Khaled Mahmud 4/37)

Bangladesh 77/4 (Rajin Saleh 29*)

Bangladesh lead by 183 runs with 6 wickets remaining

Posted by Neil