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Ali, Pakistan leave Bangladesh on ropes

No.3 blazes double hundred before bowlers take five wickets on dominant day for tourists

Azhar Ali smashed a career-best 226 and Asad Shafiq made 107 before the bowlers rattled Bangladesh's top order to leave Pakistan on top in the second and final Test in Dhaka on Thursday.

The pair put on 207 for the fifth wicket as Pakistan posted 8-557 before declaring their first innings during the tea interval at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Bangladesh tottered to 5-107 in reply by stumps, still 450 runs behind and facing the daunting prospect of batting for a major part of the remaining three days to avoid defeat.

Left-arm seamer Junaid Khan set the hosts back by trapping Tamim Iqbal, who hit a double-century in the drawn first Test in Khulna, leg-before with the fourth delivery of the innings.

Junaid also had Mominul Haque caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed for 13 and leg-spinner Yasir Shah bowled Imrul Kayes for 32 to reduce Bangladesh to 3-69.

Wahab Riaz had Mohammad Mahmudullah fending a catch to short-leg and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was bowled by Yasir off the last ball of the day. Shakib Al Hasan was unbeaten on 14.

Pakistan lost skipper Misbah-ul Haq in the day's second over, bowled by Shakib for nine, before a run had been added to the overnight score of 323 for three.

But Azhar and Shafiq denied Bangladesh another success till just before the tea break when four wickets fell in the space of 27 runs as Pakistan slipped from 4-530 to 8-557.

Pakistan are seeking their first win at the end of the month-long tour, after they were routed 3-0 in the one-day series and also lost a Twenty20 international for the first time against Bangladesh.