Record chase awaits Pakistan in Sylhet

Published : Monday, 18 May, 2026 at 3:10 PM Count : 10

Bangladesh tightened their grip on the Sylhet Test against Pakistan with a composed batting display on the third day, as veteran Mushfiqur Rahim guided the hosts towards a daunting lead that could leave the visitors chasing history.

Unlike the opening two days, when the Sylhet surface heavily favoured the bowlers, conditions appeared considerably friendlier for batting on Monday. Although there was still occasional movement under overcast skies early in the day, Bangladesh’s batters showed far greater assurance and patience.

At tea, Bangladesh were firmly placed at 306 for 6 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 352 runs. Mushfiqur remained unbeaten on a gritty 90, while Taijul Islam was alongside him on 8.

The day, however, carried mixed emotions for the home side. Liton Das looked set for a place in the record books before falling against the run of play. The wicketkeeper-batter, who had starred in the first innings, was eyeing a rare feat — becoming only the third wicketkeeper-batter in Test history after Andy Flower and Rishabh Pant to score centuries in both innings of a Test.

Liton appeared in sublime touch during his fluent 69, but his promising innings ended abruptly after lunch. Attempting an upper-cut off Hasan Ali, he was caught at third man, handing Pakistan a breakthrough just when Bangladesh seemed poised to take complete control.

Before Liton’s dismissal, he and Mushfiqur had stitched together a crucial 123-run fifth-wicket stand that shifted the momentum decisively in Bangladesh’s favour. Mushfiqur, cautious from the outset, anchored the innings with remarkable discipline while allowing his partner to play more freely.

The experienced batter was especially watchful during the morning session when the ball still offered movement. He became even more restrained after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto departed within the first hour.

In the partnership with Liton, Mushfiqur contributed only 49 runs, content to absorb pressure and preserve his wicket. Even after Liton’s departure, he continued to prioritise stability, adding just 13 runs during a 34-run stand with Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

However, the veteran shifted gears late in the session alongside Taijul, finding boundaries more regularly as Bangladesh looked to bat Pakistan completely out of the contest.

History strongly favours the hosts from this position. Sylhet has witnessed only one successful fourth-innings chase in five previous Tests — Zimbabwe’s three-wicket win over Bangladesh last year while pursuing 174. Whenever targets at the venue have crossed 300, the chasing side has crumbled to heavy defeats.

Bangladesh themselves have endured painful memories at the ground, including a 151-run loss to Zimbabwe national cricket team while chasing 321 in Sylhet’s inaugural Test in 2018 and a crushing 328-run defeat against Sri Lanka national cricket team in 2024 after being set 511.

Yet there are also reasons for optimism. In 2023, New Zealand national cricket team failed to chase 332 at the same venue, collapsing to a 150-run defeat.

Across all Test matches in Bangladesh, only once has a team successfully chased more than 350 — when Kyle Mayers inspired the West Indies cricket team to a remarkable chase of 395 in 2021.

With the Sylhet pitch still offering reasonable batting conditions, Bangladesh will now aim to stretch the lead well beyond Pakistan’s reach before unleashing their bowlers on a wearing final-day surface.

FP/MI