Mushfiqur, Liton stand helps Bangladesh to stay in Pakistan Test

Bangladesh wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim accompanied with Liton Das made a crucial stand to put Bangladesh in command, as they posted 316-5 at stumps on Day 3 in reply to Pakistan's 448 in the first innings during the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. 

Additionally, opener batsman Shadman Islam's gritty 93 and triple fifties from Mominul Haque, Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim helped team tigers to get to 316-5. On the other hand, Pakistan pacers toiled hard in the humid conditions, while Liton Das did the damage in the last session to bring Bangladesh back after some quick wickets in the second session.

Bangladesh's slow but steady progress towards Pakistan's mammoth total was dented twice in the post-Lunch session as both the set batters Mominul Haque and Shadman Islam were sent packing. 

Shadman was just seven short of his second Test hundred when Mohammad Ali got a ball to sneak past the batter's defence to shatter the stumps. His dismissal brought an end to the second session with Bangladesh on 199 for 4, trailing Pakistan by 249 runs.

Mominul and Shadman attempted to put together largely more of what they pulled off in three-hour morning session where they defied a bowling attack looking for early inroads. They saw the back of opener Zakir Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain but the third-wicket alliance lasted entire session, and beyond even as it came at a very slow pace.

In fourth over of the second session however, Khurram Shahzad got a ball to nip back off a length to breach Mominul's forward push and hit the stumps. Mominul trudged back for a 76-ball 50 but Mushfiqur Rahim joined the other half-centurion in middle to keep Pakistan at bay. 

In the 18 overs bowled in the second session, Bangladesh scored 65 runs - with Shadman scoring 40 of them. The left-hander survived an LBW appeal on a review and pushed on to collect four fours off Agha Salman across two overs. Naseem Shah was brought back to the attack and was meted similar treatment from the set batter as he moved into the 90s.

Ali then stopped him in his tracks to bring an end to the session and punch a hole in Bangladesh's dogged defiance.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 199/4 (Shadman Islam 93, Mominul Haque 50; Khurram Shahzad 2-36) trail Pakistan 448/6 decl. by 249 runs.