The Bangladesh-A team needs six more wickets to win the second match in the two-match unofficial Test series against their Pakistan counterparts as Pakistan-A ended Day 3 at 136 runs for four wickets at Marrara Oval, Darwin, Australia, on Sunday.
Resuming from an overnight score of 84 runs for three wickets, Bangladesh were wrapped up for 216 runs in their second innings. With a 79-run lead from the first innings, Bangladesh set a target of 296 runs for Pakistan. Unbeaten batter and Bangladesh skipper Mahmudul Hasan Joy added 26 runs to his previous day's 39 to achieve back-to-back fifties in the match, while Aich Mollah scored 58 runs after starting the day on eight. Shadman Islam, who came in to bat at number six, was dismissed for a duck. However, Shahadat Hossain Dipu contributed 33 runs, and Maidul Islam Ankon added 13.
Mohammad Ali took six wickets for Pakistan, Khurram Shahzad claimed three, and Faisal Akram took one.
In reply, Pakistan got off to a strong start with a 96-run opening partnership, with Sahibzada Farhan scoring a quick-fire half-century of 68 off 70 balls. However, after his dismissal, Pakistan quickly lost three more wickets as Kamran Ghulam and Umar Amin both departed for ducks, while Irfan Khan managed to score 15 runs.
Rejaur Rahman Raja claimed two wickets for Bangladesh, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Hasan Murad taking one wicket each.
Earlier on Friday, Pakistan-A won the toss and invited Bangladesh-A to bat first. Bangladesh posted 258 runs in their first innings, with contributions from Joy (69), Mollah (55), Maidul Islam Ankon (31), Rejaur Rahman Raja (28) and Ripon Mondol (17).
For Pakistan-A, Khurram Shahzad took three wickets, while Kashif Ali, Faisal Akram, and Kamran Ghulam each claimed two wickets.
In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 179 runs, with Kamran Ghulam scoring 48, Tayyab Tahir 30, Umar Amin 25, Haseebullah Khan 18, and Kashif Ali 16 runs.
Ripon Mondol took four wickets, Rejaur Rahman Raja claimed three, Hasan Murad took two and Maruf Mridha picked up the remaining wicket.
