Pakistan Grinding Out A Victory

Misbah sweeps on his way to 70

Their justification will be the importance of creating a responsible batting order but Pakistan's steady and unrelenting pressure on the fourth day against Bangladesh isn't the sort of bright, result oriented cricket Mark Taylor created with Australia in the 1990's - more Ted Dexter of the first half of the 1960's. Batting with caution first and refusing to yield wickets even when the match required quick runs has, unfortunately for Test cricket, again been rewarded as Bangladesh collapsed in a frenzy late in the day.

The outstanding part of the day was not the Bangladeshi fielding, which followed three dropped chances yesterday with three more today and none of them that difficult. Robiul Islam (mid on), Mahmudullah (slip) and Elias Sunny (mid wicket) all deserve shaming for flooring catches that Test players always hold. Sunny's was the more difficult but no excuses. Stuart Law has a clear indicator where to aim his most urgent practice routines.

The outstanding part of the day was not the Bangladesh second innings. Tamim Iqbal started hurried and ended Billyed: umpire Doctrove sending him on his way after an Umar Gul delivery struck him on the helmet and Misbah-ul-Haq claimed the catch at first slip. If the decision was rude, the appeal was worse. Next ball, one of the first innings heroes, Shahriar Nafees was struck in line but at a questionable height and Billy marched him too. 2-23 chasing a deficit of 118 wasn't good. With Mahmudullah pushing the score along, Abdur Rehman skittled Nazimuddin with a straight, flat ball that went straight through him. Nasir Hossain was dropped at slip early but recovered and he and Mahmudullah were looking comfortable against the spinners. Aziz Cheema's return bought a brain explosion from Muhmudullah who attempted a lofted, thumping drive down the ground but instead sent an outside edge skyward and was caught at point. It was dumb cricket from a batsman who was set. Only a handful of overs later, Cheema claimed the big prize, Bangladesh's player of the match, Shakib Al Hasan, when he cramped him for room on the off stump and Azhar Ali took a good catch in the gully. It was a 35 over disaster.

Shakib took 6-82 with his left arm spin

The outstanding part of the day was not Pakistan adding 178 in 59 overs. It didn't help that Younis Khan was out in the second over but they were too tardy. Misbar constructed probably the best hand of the innings, even though Taufeeq had made a century. At least he attempted to increase the tempo. Shafiq and Akmal both made good contributions until the tail failed to wag, losing the last three wickets for just six.


No, the outstanding part of the day was Shakib taking five of the seven wickets to fall, finishing with a creditable 6-82 from nearly forty one overs. When matched with his first innings 144, he becomes the first player from Bangladesh to score a century and take five or more wickets in an innings in the same Test.

The fourth day was the first to contain all of its overs, with 93 bowled and the rest consumed by the innings break but even a short day on the fifth should be enough for another Pakistan Test victory and a 2-0 series result.