Mirpur Test ’50-50 at the Moment’ Says Mehidy Hasan After Crucial Day 3
Mirpur Test Poised at ’50-50′ Says Mehidy Hasan After Tight Day 3
Following a tense and turning third day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has labeled the ongoing Test against Pakistan as “50-50″—a testament to the razor-thin margins now defining the contest.
Bangladesh closed the day just 34 runs ahead with all ten wickets intact in their second innings, having restricted Pakistan to 389 in 100.3 overs after a promising start. Mehidy, who claimed his first five-wicket haul in over a year, taking 5 for 102, acknowledged the opportunity missed but remained optimistic about the team’s chances with two days remaining.
Missed Chances and Momentum Shifts
Pakistan began day three at 179 for 1 and looked set for a commanding first-innings total. Openers had laid a solid foundation, and centurion Azam Awais was still at the crease. However, a dramatic collapse soon followed—four wickets fell for just 20 runs, engineered by Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan in a fiery spell after lunch.
Taskin struck twice early, removing Azam and captain Shan Masood, while Mehidy dismissed Saud Shakeel and Abdullah Shafique (Fazal corrected to Shafique per common player name usage), seizing control of the game. The spell nearly became more devastating when Taskin induced an edge from Salman Agha on 0, but a no-ball allowed the batter to survive.
“Partnerships can happen in cricket,” Mehidy reflected. “We certainly had the opportunity by putting them under pressure during that time. Unfortunately, there was a no-ball. If it wasn’t a no-ball, it would have been a different scenario. After a batter gets a life, he gets into a different mindset. I still think we came back well with the ball. We bowled well, and even dominated them in many occasions. Our bowlers should get the credit.”
Rebuilding and Resilience
Salman Agha went on to score 58, combining with Mohammad Rizwan (71) for a 119-run stand that helped Pakistan recover from 230 for 6 to a total of 389. The partnership proved crucial, erasing Bangladesh’s brief advantage and ensuring parity in the match.
Mehidy admitted that while the bowling attack fought hard, the hosts need to push for a substantial lead to feel secure—a target he estimates at around 300 runs.
“We have to bat responsibly,” he emphasized. “You never know what score is safe on this wicket. The pitch may get harder to bat on from day four onwards. Our batters must show responsibility. I think we should get a lead close to 300 at least.”
Praise for Taskin and Bowling Unit
Taskin Ahmed, playing his first Test since the 2024 West Indies tour, was lauded by Mehidy for his accuracy and pressure-building spell. “He made life easier for me at the other end,” Mehidy said. “Particularly when Pakistan were losing quick wickets before lunch, he was not giving away too many runs. That created the pressure we needed.”
He added: “If you’re leaking runs from one end, there’s no point in checking them from the other. Bowling tightly from both ends gives you wicket-taking chances. Rana and Ebadot also bowled well. We didn’t allow them to take a lead—that’s a positive for our bowling unit.”
Personal Form and Confidence
For Mehidy, the five-wicket haul marked a personal milestone after a lean patch. In his previous three Tests against Ireland and Sri Lanka, he managed just five wickets. ODI performances also saw him being economical but wicketless.
“I didn’t have a lot of confidence when I was bowling in the ODIs against Pakistan and New Zealand recently,” he admitted. “I worked a lot on my bowling, so my confidence grew. I think I am an effective bowler even when I’m not taking regular wickets. Test cricket gives you a lot more opportunities—you get the time to maintain your rhythm and plan.”
With the stage set for a gripping final stretch, Bangladesh will look to bat deep and build on their slender lead—relying on both experience and temperament to seize control of a match that remains perfectly balanced.
