Bangladesh retained significant control over the second and final Test match against Pakistan, reducing the visitors to 96 runs for the loss of four wickets by the lunch interval on Day Two. Deployed at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, the Bangladeshi bowling unit capitalised on early morning assistance, with seam bowler Taskin Ahmed and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz sharing the spoils. At the interval, Pakistan trailed Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 278 runs by 182, with veteran batsman Babar Azam remaining unbeaten on 37.
Taskin’s Early Seam Penetration
Pakistan had commenced the morning session on Sunday, 17 May 2026, from an overnight position of 21 without loss after navigating six overs late on the first evening. Bangladesh’s opening bowlers, Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed, immediately adopted a restrictive line to pressure the top order. The tactical adjustment yielded an immediate breakthrough in the second over of the morning.
Taskin dismissed 23-year-old opener Abdullah Fazal with his first delivery of the day. Fazal, who had recorded two half-centuries on his debut in Mirpur, was caught for 9 runs following an athletic diving catch by wicketkeeper Litton Das. In his next over, Taskin struck again by removing Azan Awais for 13. The delivery moved late off the pitch, inducing an mistimed defensive stroke that was caught by Mominul Haque at short leg, leaving Pakistan at 22 for two.
First Innings Progress and Statistics at Lunch (Day 2)
| Innings Order | Team Cumulative Score | Active Batsmen / Dismissed Tops | Key Bowling Figures |
| Bangladesh (1st Innings) | 278 All Out | Litton Das (126 Runs) | Khurram Shahzad (4 Wickets) |
| Pakistan (1st Innings) | 96 for 4 (29 Overs) | Babar Azam (37* Runs) Salman Ali Agha (6* Runs) | Taskin Ahmed (2 Wickets) Mehidy Hasan Miraz (2 Wickets) |
Miraz Breaks Middle-Order Resistance
Following the initial breakthroughs, Pakistan captain Shan Masood joined Babar Azam to repair the damage, building a 38-run partnership. The recovery was curtailed by spin bowler Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who tempted Masood into a loose drive through the covers, resulting in a catch by substitute fielder Nayeem Hasan. Masood departed for 21.
Left-handed batsman Saud Shakeel joined Azam but struggled to rotate the strike under sustained spin pressure. Attempting to release the tension with a sweep shot, Shakeel top-edged the delivery to Litton Das, falling for 8 runs off 28 balls and reducing Pakistan to 79 for four.
Babar Azam subsequently stabilized the innings alongside Salman Ali Agha, who was 6 not out at lunch, to keep the scoreboard moving. This morning bowling performance strongly consolidated Bangladesh’s position after their own first innings total of 278 was rescued on Day One by a composed 126 from Litton Das, following a top-order collapse engineered by Pakistan’s Khurram Shahzad, who took four wickets.