Islam takes 4 wickets as Bangladesh closes in on series sweep against Pakistan after Day 4 SYLHET, Bangladesh (AP) — Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed four crucial wickets on Day 4 of the second Test against Pakistan, propelling Bangladesh closer to a historic series sweep. The hosts reduced the visiting team to 316-7, leaving Pakistan needing 121 runs to avoid a series defeat. Despite a valiant effort from Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha, who added 134 runs for the sixth wicket, Bangladesh’s bowlers maintained pressure, setting the stage for a potential four-day victory. The match, played in challenging conditions, saw Taijul dominate the latter stages of the innings. His key breakthrough came when he dismissed Agha with a sharp slider, breaking a promising partnership with Rizwan. Earlier in the day, Nahid Rana’s pace bowling had troubled Pakistan, with his early dismissal of Abdullah Fazal (6) and offspinner Mehidy Hasan’s lbw dismissal of Azan Awais (21) giving Bangladesh control. However, Pakistan’s skipper Shan Masood and Babar Azam resisted, forging a 91-run stand that ended when Taijul trapped Azam lbw for 47. Masood, who survived a close catch at short-leg, and Rizwan continued to build momentum, with Rizwan reaching his 14th half-century and Agha scoring his 12th fifty off 74 balls. Their partnership, however, faced a setback when Agha’s ambitious shot led to his dismissal, leaving Pakistan at 162-6. Despite the setbacks, Rizwan’s resilience shone through, as he swept Taijul past square leg for a boundary, showcasing his composure under pressure. Bangladesh’s bowling coach Shaun Tait praised Taijul’s performance, calling it a “warrior effort” to bowl through the day’s challenges and take the new ball late in the innings.#pakistan #mohammad_rizwan #bangladesh #taijul_islam #shahid_ahmed
