[Nasif]

Yahoo UK

Bangladesh Aim For Historic Victory

Bangladesh could at last be in with a chance of breaking their Test duck following a resolute fightback against Pakistan in Karachi.

The minnows of the international game have lost all but one of their 21 matches since entering the Test arena almost three years ago - the other was drawn - but have given themselves a good chance of making history in the first Test.

And Habibul Bashar deserves much of the credit for his second half-century of the match on day three.

At the close of play, the tourists were 163 for three in their second innings - an overall lead of 105 - with Bashar having followed up his 71 in the first innings with an unbeaten on 82.

It was a fine effort at consolidation after they restricted Pakistan to a surprisingly modest 58-run first innings lead.

Pakistan's tailenders had fallen quickly on the third morning with the hosts dismissed just before lunch for 346 in reply to Bangladesh's first innings of 288 all out.

The odds look to be slanting towards Bangladesh due mainly to the fact that Pakistan have four debutants in their line-up, a bad record at chasing winning targets in excess of 200 runs and the wicket is showing signs of breaking up.