News Flash
DHAKA, May 10, 2026 (BSS) - All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz believes the first Test against Pakistan remains evenly balanced despite Bangladesh taking a slender first innings lead at the end of the Day 3 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh had the chance to secure a much bigger advantage after Pakistan slipped to four wickets down quickly, but a costly no-ball allowed Salman Agha to survive on naught.
The batter went on to score 58 and added a crucial 119-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan to keep Pakistan firmly in the contest.
Salman was caught off the bowling of Taskin Ahmed when Pakistan were under heavy pressure, but the dismissal was overturned because of a no-ball, changing the momentum of the innings.
Despite Mehidy Hasan Miraz claiming a five-wicket haul to bowl Pakistan out for 386 and give Bangladesh a 27-run lead, the all-rounder insisted the match was still evenly poised.
"There are still two days left. The match is in a fifty-fifty situation because we haven't got much of a lead," Miraz said after the day's play. "We have to bat responsibly because you can never say what score is safe in Mirpur."
Bangladesh reached seven without loss in their second innings before bad light ended play early, stretching the lead to 34 runs.
Miraz said Bangladesh would target a lead close to 300, believing batting conditions would become increasingly difficult over the final two days.
"I think 290 to 300 runs can be a good score on this wicket because batting will be very difficult on the fourth and fifth days," he said.
The Mirpur pitch began to show signs of deterioration late on Day 3, with variable turn and bounce beginning to appear. Miraz, however, noted that the surface had remained good for batting for most of the match so far.
"The wicket was very good for three days and it is still good. But I think it will become difficult on Day 4 and 5 because two innings have already been played on it. Whoever bats on the Day 5 will definitely face more challenges."
Pakistan's innings featured three century partnerships, with the Rizwan-Salman stand proving specially frustrating for Bangladesh after they had clawed back into the contest with quick wickets.
Miraz admitted the match situation could have looked very different had Bangladesh dismissed Salman earlier.
"If that wicket had counted, the scenario could have been different," he said. "But this is the beauty of Test cricket. Such situations happen and the team that makes fewer mistakes stays ahead. We made mistakes in some places but handled the situation well mentally."
