Sakib al Hasan became the first Bangladeshi to hit a century and take five wickets in an innings in the same Test but his efforts look like being in a losing cause after Pakistan seized control of the second Test.
All-rounder Sakib followed his first-innings 144 with the bat by snapping up six for 82 with the ball as the hosts bowled out Pakistan for 470 on the fourth day on Tuesday.
The remaining squad, however, did little to hounor Sakib for his unique feat as they limped to 114 for five in their second innings, trailing the visitors still by 18 runs overall.
Knowing their vulnerability against quality bowling and the recent history of
repeated collapse, one can be very little optimistic about them saving the Test match, which still has 98 overs of play left.
They were last in a similar situation against West Indies in this very ground in November when they had five wickets in hand before going to the fifth day with a task to save the match.
They were all out in little over than one session and one can expect a similar result unless Nasir Hossain (30 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (7 not out), the last recognised batting pair and both unbeaten overnight, do a miracle.
Bangladesh can only blame them for going into such a position as the bowlers created enough chances to restrict Pakistan to a reasonable total and bat at time when there was enough light in the field.
The diminishing light not only forced the batsmen to make a mistake but also had clear impact on the eyesight of umpire Billy Doctrove whose two blunders cost them dearly in the second innings.
Tamim Iqbal finally looks to have got back his touch when he started batting in the second innings but Doctorve ruined his effort on 21 raising a finger to a caught behind appeal off Umar Gul.
Replay showed that the short-pitch ball had brushed off his shoulder and Tamim was under no illusion to have accepted the decision happily. While leaving the ground, he indicated the incoming batsman Shahriar Nafees that he ball had hit him in the helmet.
Little Shahriar knew that he would be a victim of Doctrove off the next ball which hit him high in the pad and the lbw appeal could have been easily overlooked.
The two gifts from the West Indian off the last two balls before the tea break took Gul close to a hat-trick and left Bangladesh to 24–2, a position from where they could never recover.
Nazimuddin survived the hat-trick ball after the break but Abdur Rehman had bowled him soon for 12 before Aizaz Cheema dismissed Mahmudullah (32) and Sakib (six).
It was not how they had expected to finish the day that began so promisingly for them with a wicket for Elias Sunny just on the second over as he got rid of the overnight Pakistani batsman Younis Khan for 19.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq had made his 14th Test half-century before Sakib began his journey towards glory making him a catch off of Mahmudullah at slip for 70.
Asad Shafiq was next to go, leg before for 42 after being deceived by a swinging ball from Robiul Islam.
Sakib then had Abdur Rehman (24), Gul (11) and Saeed Ajmal to complete his five-wicket haul that made him only the second cricketer in nine years after India’s Ravichandran Ashwin to take a five-for and a century in the same Test.
The wicket of the last man Adnan Akmal, who had just completed his maiden Test 50, took his tally to six giving him even a greater success as only six players in this history could achieve a six-for and a century before him.
-With New Age input
