RAWALPINDI: Bangladesh moved within 63 runs of a rare test series sweep Tuesday as it pursued back-to-back victories in Pakistan.
Bangladesh notched an epic 10-wicket win in the first test and reached 122-2 at lunch on the final day, chasing 185 to win the second test.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was batting on 33 and Mominul Haque was unbeaten on 20, with both left-handers digging in well and inching Bangladesh closer to victory.
Pakistan's new ball fast bowlers Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad knocked over openers Zakir Hasan (40) and Shadman Islam (24) inside the first hour after both Bangladesh batters were unable to fully capitalize on chances.
Pakistan chose not to review when Mohammad Ali beat Zakir with a pacey delivery and found the edge of the bat in the third over after Bangladesh resumed on 42-0. And Salman Ali Agha couldn’t hold onto a difficult catch of Shadman Islam in the slips cordon.
Shanto and Mominul then kept Pakistan's pace bowlers at bay in the latter half of the morning session with their resilient batting. The Bangladesh pair also watchfully played out the five overs of specialist leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who is still searching for his first wicket after being ignored for the first test.
Bangladesh has won just one bilateral test series of two or more tests away from home — in the West Indies in 2009.
Both Bangladesh and Pakistan are languishing at No. 7 and No. 8 in the World Test Championship standings.