Opener Abid Ali hits 4th Test century for Pakistan against Bangladesh

Chattogram: Opener Abid Ali hit his fourth Test century to help Pakistan reach 203-4 at lunch amid Bangladesh spinners’ domination on day three of the first cricket Test today.

Pakistan was 127 runs behind Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 330.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam pegged back Pakistan’s innings with 3-70 but Abid, who was on 127 at lunch, remained steady in the crease. Mohammad Rizwan was on 5.

Taijul struck in the first over of the day, dismissing Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali via review in consecutive deliveries after Pakistan resumed the day on 145 for no loss.

Overnight total

Shafique couldn’t add any runs to his overnight total of 52.

Abid, who started the day on 93, flicked Taijul past square leg for two runs to reach his century off 209 balls.

Skipper Babar Azam appeared to be in control before offspinner Mehidy Hasan’s quicker delivery rattled his stump for 10.

Taijul, who was bowling unchanged from one end in the morning session, used his flight and variation well to curb the aggression of the Pakistan batters. He struck again when he spun a ball sharply to dismiss Fawad Alam (8), also via review.