Tigers staring at innings defeat

Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah became the youngest bowler to take a hattrick in Test cricket, leaving the visiting Bangladesh on the verge of yet another humiliating innings defeat in the longest format of the game. Bangladesh were struggling on 126 for six in their second innings against Pakistan after the third day of the first Test in Rawalpindi yesterday.

Courtesy of the 16-year-old’s late blow, Bangladesh lost four wickets for just two runs. The visitors require another 86 runs with four wickets in hand to avoid the innings defeat.

Naseem initiated the carnage by dismissing Nazmul Hossain Shanto on 38 and then removed Taijul Islam before completing his hattrick by removing Mahmudullah Riyad and creating history in the latter stages of the day.

The first innings’ top-scorer Mohammad Mithun was the last batsman to fall on the day as Yasir Shah got him for a duck, leaving skipper Mominul Haque, unbeaten on 37, looking helpless at the other end.

However, Bangladesh replied well with the bat despite losing opener Saif Hasan after scoring 16. He was undone by Naseem’s fiery pace but the experienced Tamim Iqbal showed glimpses of hope and looked compact until he was trapped leg before by Yasir  on 34.

Skipper Mominul Haque tried to hang on from the other end until Naseem’s brilliance later on in the day eradicated all the hard work the Tigers had done.

The Tigers started the day well and managed to bundle Pakistan out for 445 after they had resumed the day on 342 for 3.

Abu Jayed, who scalped two wickets on the first day, dismissed centurion Babar Azam in the first over of the day for 143. Ebadat Hossain then removed Asad Shafiq, who added just five runs to his overnight score of 61.

Haris Sohail then took charge but was dismissed after scoring 75 runs by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam while pacer Rubel Hossain cut off the tail, picking three wickets in the end.