Bashar's 108 keeps Pakistan at bay

Danish Kaneria struck two vital blows midway through the morning session to leave the Test match tantalisingly poised with five sessions to go. Bangladesh were in control of the situation at 194 for 3 - a lead of 136 - but the loss of Habibul Bashar and Alok Kapali resulted in the second hour being a real battle of cat-and-mouse. At lunch, Bangladesh had reached 221 for 5, with Rajin Saleh having faced 192 balls for his 45.

The first hour had belonged to Bashar, who brought up his second Test century - only the fourth by a Bangladesh batsman, and the first against Pakistan - with a mixture of caution and reckless abandon. Having resumed on 82, Bashar was off and running with a cracking square drive off Shoaib Akhtar.

The prospect of three figures was clearly making him nervous though, and he was fortunate that a thumping drive off Mohammad Hafeez just eluded Yousuf Youhana's outstretched fingertips at deep midwicket. And if that wasn't good fortune enough, an inside-edge off Akhtar's bowling spun back just short of the stumps.

But Bangladesh's best batsman wouldn't be denied, and a deft deflection down to short third man off Umar Gul saw him to 100, prompting sustained applause from the dressing room, and the small smattering of spectators. At that stage, with Saleh having dug a deep trench at the other end, things looked rosy for Bangladesh.

It was Bashar's penchant for the spectacular that undid him. Kaneria, who had persisted in pitching short and wide most of the morning, finally got one in the slot. Bashar leant back and had an almighty swing, but it didn't even go as far as the average sand wedge - straight to Shabbir Ahmed at cover (194 for 4). Bashar's 108 had spanned almost five hours, but the manner in which he gave it away took some of the sheen off the effort.

Moments later, Kaneria sneaked a googly through Alok Kapali's bat and pad, prompting a few anxious faces in the Bangladesh dressing room. They needn't have worried. With Saleh showing the adhesive qualities of a periwinkle on rock, and Khaled Mashud providing stolid support, Pakistan's best efforts were thwarted. Akhtar ran in and gave it his best shot, but the bowling seldom threatened a Bangladesh side that has suddenly discovered the access codes to Test match batting.