Pakistan have two days to remove Tigers

Pakistan have two days to either prevent Bangladesh from reaching 550 runs, which seems highly unlikely, or to bowl them out and win the second Test in Dhaka, after day three belonged solidly to the visitors.

Pakistan took the five wickets required in the morning session to end the Tigers' first innings on 203, before a Misbah-ul-Haq half century saw Pakistan to 195 for six declared. Needing 550 to win, the Tigers were on 63 for one at stumps.

Bangladesh started the day on 107 for five, having lost their way the evening before. Shakib-al-Hasan was already there on 14, and he was the sole contributor in the morning on Friday as he smacked a quick 89 not out, and a final stand of 60-odd.

No-one below him was able to reach the 20s as Yasir Shah took two, Wahab Riaz took two and Mohammad Hafeez the other. This left the Tigers well behind the follow-on point, but Misbah opted to bat again, the lead already nearing 350.

Pakistan lost regular wickets in their second dig, making one wonder if the game could have ended on the day if they'd kept bowling, but Misbah's 82 off 72 balls ensured a hefty lead before he was out in the afternoon.

As such, the Tigers had to survive a session but they could not do so unscathed. Imrul Kayes fell to Yasir for 16, bowled nicely, and the lead still over 500. Tamim Iqbal, who had earlier reached 3000 Test runs, was on 32 at the close.