Rain halts Bangladesh victory bid

Rawalpindi, Sept. 3: Pacemen Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana shared nine wickets on Monday to set Bangladesh on course for victory over Pakistan before rain stopped play on the fourth day of the 

second Test.

Hasan took 5-43 while Nahid added 4-44 -- both career-best figures -- in dismissing Pakistan for 172 in their second innings and giving the visitors a target of 185 to secure a 2-0 series win in Rawalpindi.

Openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam raced to 42 without loss -- with Zakir hitting two sixes and two boundaries -- before rain clouds gathered and bad light suspended play one over after the tea break.

Bangladesh lead the two-match series 1-0 after a surprise win in Rawalpindi last month, their first in 14 tests against Pakistan.

They have only won two series away from home -- against the West Indies in 2009 and Zimbabwe in 2021 -- and need another 143 runs on the final day on Tuesday to secure victory.

England clinch series 

England clinched the series against Sri Lanka by winning the second test on Sunday on the back of a five-wicket haul by Gus Atkinson that put him on the honours board at Lord’s once again.

England dismissed Sri Lanka for 292 in its second innings to seal a 190-run win just after tea on Day 4 at the home of cricket and move 2-0 ahead in the three-match series. It backed up a 3-0 victory for England over the West Indies in July.

Atkinson is England’s new star and the fast bowler took 5-62 to follow his brilliant knock of 118 as a No. 8 in the first innings that set his team up for the win. Atkinson will get his name on the honours board in the England dressing room at Lord’s for both of those exploits — having already done so during the West Indies series for a 10-wicket haul at the storied ground in northwest London.

“I have had a good few games here, I don’t know what it is,” Atkinson said. “I enjoy bowling down the slope but the batting, I’m not sure!”

England won the first test in Manchester last week. The third and final match of the series starts at The Oval on Friday. (AFP)