Bangladesh favourites to win historic series vs Pakistan, finish 2nd Test Day 4 at 42/0 while chasing 185

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Bangladesh finished Day 4 of the second and final Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi at 42/0, and needed just 143 runs more to script history on Tuesday, September 3.

Pakistan were bundled out for 172 in the second innings after resuming from their overnight score of 9/2. Opener Saim Ayub was the first one to depart for 20, and captain Shan Masood followed him three overs later for 28 runs off 34 balls.

Eyes were on Babar Azam, but the star batter disappointed once again. He was dismissed for 11 off 18, and now has gone 15 innings without a Test fifty. A 55-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan (43) and Agha Salman (47*) for the seventh wicket took Pakistan past 100.

Hasan Mahmud struck for the third time to break the partnership in the 37th over, and later picked two more wickets to register his maiden Test five-fer. The 24-year-old pacer from Laxmipur was supported tremendously by 21-year-old Nahid Rana, who ended up picking four wickets in just 11 overs. The two fast bowlers are playing only in their third Test.

The confidence given by the bowlers rubbed on the batters as well. Opener Zakir Hasan blasted 31 runs off just 23 balls as Bangladesh raced to 42/0 in seven overs before bad light and rain stopped the play.

Notably, Pakistan were bundled out for 146 in the second innings of the first Test as Bangladesh registered their first-ever Test win against Pakistan by a massive 10-wicket margin. A victory on Tuesday, will ensure Bangladesh's first-ever Test series win against Pakistan.

Pakistan are playing the match without their premium pacers Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah, but Khurram Shahzad (6/90) gave them a golden opportunity to level the series in the first innings. Bangladesh were reduced to 26/6 in reply to Pakistan's 274 in the first innings. But a hundred from Liton Das, and a fifty from Mehidy Hasan Miraz (78), helped Bangladesh end their innings at 262.

Bangladesh would be hoping for a favourable weather, and a spirited effort from their batters to achieve a massive milestone in their Test cricket history on final Day 5 of the decisive Test.