The Days Are Getting Shorter

Mirpur is an odd place to play cricket. The wicket is as flat and as even as most practice wickets, intended to provide a surface for batsmen, not bowlers. Fog lingers in the early morning because of the early start to try and avoid the bad light in the afternoon. The net result is the same. Not one of the three days has managed to last more than 69 overs, let alone the dyslexic ICC target of 96. For the home side, perhaps the reassurance of a safety net against defeat helps their play - well, innings defeat at least.

Taufeeq Umar made
a lucky 130

In the "light" of this influence over the result, Pakistan's batting on the third day was puzzling but not entirely unexpected. In 69 overs they added 205 runs, losing only two wickets although the small return for Bangladesh was less to do with the batting and more to do with inept fielding. Taufeeq should have been stumped on 56, when Mushfiqur Rahim appealed for a catch down the ledside of the left arm orthodox Shakib Al Hasan and forgot to remove the bails as well with the batsmen well down the pitch. He was dropped on 67 when he cut the first ball after lunch straight into and then out of Nazimuddin's hands in the gully and then on 118 when he sent a difficult but catchable bat pad opportunity to Shahriar Nafeez of Elias Sunny. Younis Khan hoiked to deep mid wicket where Shahadat spilled the catch off Nasir Hossain. The latter two chances came in the first two overs after tea.

Pakistan have batted with caution under Misbah-ul-Haq's leadership, strange considering his own desire to score quickly. Their intention is occupation of the crease and ensuring they can't be beaten by running down the clock, rather than the exuberant yet often reckless stroke play that has always been a hallmark of Pakistani cricket. With 5 wins and 2 losses in 12 Test since their last series loss, its a policy that is hard to argue with. Their top order all have healthy averages in that time, with only Asad Shafiq averaging below 40 and Mohammad Haeez, Taufeeq and Azhar Ali all in the high 40's. The skipper, Misbah checks in at 68 and the old pro Younis has been almost Bradman-like at 87.

Azhar Ali made a slow 57

Taufeeq didn't play a perfect innings here but any century is a good innings. He partnered Azhar to 127, the latter being the most patient of the Pakistanis, making a controlled and chanceless half century. Taufeeq added 95 with Younis before he was eventually out to the best of the Bangaldeshi bowlers, Nazmul Hossain. The tall man's work was good all day, but he took advantage of the second new ball to make things uncomfortable for batsmen who had looked in complete and easy control.  Four overs into the new cherry, he decked one across the left handed Taufeeq, found the edge and against the trend, Shahriar held a fine low catch at second slip.

Misbah was busy at the crease, hitting as many fours in his 50 deliveries as Younis had in more than twice that many. Pakistan closed in on Bangladesh as the light inevitably did, in depressing fashion, on the play.

If Pakistan can bat strongly on the fourth day and get a 200 run lead by the close, then a Bangladeshi collapse on the last day is still on the cards.