Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed four wickets as Bangladesh moved within three wickets of a series sweep against Pakistan after reducing the tourists to 316-7 on day 4 of the second test in the chase of an improbable 437.

Mohammad Rizwan was batting on 75 as the last hope for Pakistan, with Sajid Khan on 8 at stumps. Salman Agha and skipper Shan Masood added 71 runs each to help Pakistan take the test to a fifth day.

Taijul put Bangladesh on top, breaking the threatening partnership of Agha and Rizwan, who shared 134 runs for the sixth wicket to give Pakistan a glimmer of hope. Taijul bowled Agha with a slider to break the stubborn rearguard before removing Hasan Ali for duck.

Fast bowler Nahid Rana took 2-58 with raw pace that troubled Pakistan throughout the day. He gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough when he dismissed Abdullah Fazal (6), who steered a short-pitch ball to gully.

Soon after, offspinner Mehidy Hasan trapped Azan Awais lbw for 21, giving Bangladesh control of the game.

But Masood and Babar Azam resisted, negotiating Nahid Rana’s bowling well and keeping the runs flowing. The 91-run stand between them came to an end when Taijul strangled Babar down the leg for 47.

Saud Shakeel then edged a pacy delivery of Nahid behind while Taijul had Masood caught at short-leg, leaving Pakistan 162-6 as Bangladesh sensed a victory inside four days.

But Rizwan, who showed grit in valuing his wicket, swept Taijul past square leg for boundary to raise his 14th fifty and Agha joined him soon after, getting to his 12th fifty off 74 balls.

However, an ambitious shot got the better of Agha as Taijul kept Bangladesh on the front foot.

Bangladesh was bowled out for 278 in the first innings, thanks to Litton Das’ 126 before dismissing Pakistan for 232.

The hosts rode on a 137 from Mushfiqur Rahim to put on 390 in the second innings, setting Pakistan the 400-plus target for a series-leveling victory.

No other team has successfully chased more than 418 runs for victory in test cricket.

Bangladesh won the first test by 104 runs and is bidding for second successive series sweep over Pakistan.

Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das hit a sublime century as Bangladesh recovered from early trouble on the opening day of the second and final cricket test against Pakistan on Saturday (May 16, 2026).

He hammered 126 runs off 159 balls with 16 fours and two sixes to help Bangladesh post 278 all out in its first innings before Pakistan reached 21 without loss at stumps, trailing by 257.

No other Bangladesh batter reached 30 runs, exposing its batting vulnerability against a disciplined Pakistan pace attack.

Khurram Shahzad, who replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi in the squad, led the charge with 4-81 while Mohammad Abbas claimed 3-45.

Hasan Ali, who was stretchered off after falling awkwardly in his first over, returned later and finished with 2-49, including the wicket of Das.

Abbas struck in the second ball of the innings, dismissing Mahmudul Hasan for a duck after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Tanzid Hasan scored 26 on his test debut. He struck Abbas for a cover-driven boundary before attacking Shahzad, who was one of Pakistan’s three changes from the first test, which Bangladesh won by 104 runs in Dhaka.

In the eighth over, Tanzid offered a return catch to pacer Hasan, who fell awkwardly and was immediately taken off the field. Tanzid was out after he top-edged a short delivery to give Abbas a return catch, ending his 44-run partnership with Mominul.

Mominul, who made half-centuries in both innings of the first test, was bowled by Shahzad for 22 to leave Bangladesh 63-3.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, fresh from his 101 and 87, and Mushfiqur Rahim were defiant but Abbas broke through with the dismissal of Shanto for 29.

Shahzad dealt a double blow, sending back Mushfiqur (23) and Mehidy Hasan as Bangladesh was reduced to 116-6.

Das, who shared 60 runs with Taijul for the seventh wicket, raised his 50 off 93 balls before racing to his sixth test ton off 135 balls overall with a sublime backfoot punch for a boundary through cover.

Pakistan batters Azan Awais (13 not out) and Abdullah Fazal (8 not out) safely negotiated six overs.

Leading Pakistan batter Babar Azam was back in the squad after missing the first test because of a left knee injury.