Rawalpindi: Senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim hit a brilliant 191 on the fourth day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Saturday, giving Bangladesh an outside chance of a maiden victory over Pakistan. The diminutive batter was the foundation of Bangladesh's first innings score of 565 -- their highest Test total against Pakistan -- and gave the visitors a first innings lead of 117. Pakistan were 23-1 at the close of play, with Abdullah Shafique on 12 and skipper Shan Masood on nine.
The home team trail by 94 runs after making 448-6 declared in the first innings. Bangladesh, who have lost 12 of the 13 Tests against Pakistan, will hope their spinners can extract some turn from a Rawalpindi pitch that has been unresponsive so far. Pakistan once again started badly when opener Saim Ayub edged a good-length ball from Shoriful Islam to wicketkeeper Liton Das after scoring just a single in the third over of their second innings.
However, the day belonged to Mushfiqur, who added 114 with Das (56) for the sixth wicket and then a record 194 for the seventh wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who made a solid 77. Bangladesh's previous Test best against Pakistan was the 555-6 they made at Khulna in 2015. Mehidy praised Mushfiqur's knock.
"Mushfiqur played a great knock," said Miraz, hoping Bangladesh can win. "Definitely the first hour tomorrow will be important and if we get early wickets we have a good chance." Mushfiqur's knock of eight hours and 42 minutes, which contained 22 boundaries and a .