• Bangladesh reach 93-2 at lunch in 31 overs.
• Mominul, Shanto rebuilt innings with half-century partnership.
• Pakistan conceded narrow 27-run first-innings deficit.

MIRPUR: Bangladesh strengthened their position on day four of the first Test against Pakistan despite losing two early wickets, extending their lead to 120 runs by lunch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Resuming the day at 7-0 from 1.5 overs, Bangladesh reached 93-2 at lunch in 31 overs, extending their lead to 120 despite losing both openers early in the session.

Mominul Haque is batting comfortably on 37 off 82 deliveries, including three boundaries, while Najmul Hossain Shanto has scored 34 off 57 balls with four fours, as the pair have also brought up a valuable 50-run partnership.

Mohammad Abbas provided the breakthrough, trapping Mahmudul Hasan Joy lbw for five off 26 deliveries. Hasan Ali then joined the attack, removing Shadman Islam, who made 10 off 22 balls, including two boundaries.

After the early setbacks, Mominul Haque and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto steadied the innings with a composed partnership, guiding Bangladesh past the 50-run mark and ensuring they maintained control of the session.

After being asked to bat first, the home side were bowled out for 413 in 117.1 overs in the first innings, courtesy of exceptional batting performances from Mominul Haque, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim.

Recovering from 31-2, Haque and Shanto batted sensibly and stitched together a 170-run partnership, with both batters bringing up half-centuries, while the skipper went on to score a century.

Haque was dismissed for 91 off 200 deliveries, featuring 10 fours, by Noman Ali, while Najmul Hossain top-scored with 101 off 130 balls, striking 12 fours and two sixes before falling to Mohammad Abbas.

Mushfiqur made a vital contribution of 71 off 179 deliveries, laced with eight fours, before being dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, while useful lower-order contributions came from Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed.

Das played a handy knock of 33 off 67 deliveries, including five fours, while Taskin scored a quickfire 28 off 19 balls, smashing three fours and a six.

Mohammad Abbas led the bowling attack for the visitors with figures of 5/92 in 34 overs. Shaheen Afridi claimed three wickets, while Hasan Ali and Noman Ali picked up one wicket each.

In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 386 in 100.3 overs, giving Bangladesh a slender 27-run lead despite a century and three half-centuries across debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, as well as senior batter Salman Ali Agha and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.

Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Awais began positively, finding boundaries early and building a composed foundation to ease the pressure after Bangladesh’s imposing first-innings total.

The pair continued to put Bangladesh’s bowlers under pressure, with runs flowing freely during the final session of play. Azan Awais raised his bat for his maiden Test fifty as the duo also brought up a 100-run opening partnership.

However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided the breakthrough by dismissing Imam-ul-Haq, who fell for 45 off 72 deliveries, striking six fours, leaving Pakistan at 106-1 in 22 overs.

Azan Awais top-scored with 103 off 105 deliveries, including 14 fours, before being dismissed by Taskin Ahmed, while Abdullah Fazal contributed 60 off 120 balls, featuring seven fours and a six, before falling to Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Salman Ali Agha and Rizwan also batted sensibly, with Agha scoring 58 off 94 deliveries, including six fours and a six, while the wicketkeeper-batter made 59 off 79 balls, striking eight fours.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz starred for the hosts with figures of 5/102 in 38 overs. Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam claimed two wickets apiece, while Nahid Rana chipped in with one wicket.

Reality star James Argent has expressed his love for his ‘dear mate’ Jake Hall, saying he loves and misses him deeply following his sudden death at the age of 35.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star, known as ‘Arg’ took to Instagram to honour his co-star, admitting he already misses him terribly and praising him as a kind soul.

Beneath the video, Argent wrote: “I’ve been processing the loss of my dear mate Jake. Watching videos, looking through photos, listening to voice notes and reading messages from our friendship. It hurts real bad.

“This footage was taken around four years ago as I’d just hit a huge weight-loss goal. Jake was so proud of me, he organised a full shoot with a videographer/photographer using his own clothing designs at his studio in east London.”

Argent recalled feeling “unsure” about the photoshoot but revealed that Hall “insisted”, adding: “He did this because he wanted me to finally feel good about myself. He gave me so much confidence. He spent the day raising me up.”

“We didn’t stop laughing and had so much fun together. I’m so lucky to have this beautiful memory.

“Jake had infectious energy and was one of a kind. Love and miss my mate so much.” 

The tribute comes after one of Hall’s friends claimed that he had made a number of suicide attempts before his death, while other friends, including his ex-partner Misse Beqiri, believe his death was accidental.

Hall was reportedly found dead at the age of 35 at a holiday villa in Mallorca on Thursday, with Spanish authorities investigating claims he may have suffered a fatal head injury after crashing into a glass door.

He also suffered head and neck wounds after apparently running through a patio door during a party at the £200-a-night Majorcan villa, investigators say.

A friend said that Hall, who was subject to a court-ordered ‘contact ban’ relating to Beqiri in 2018 after they split, was: ‘killed by Towie.’

Tom Brady made a surprise appearance at the Kia Forum on Sunday night to get some revenge on Kevin Hart, taking the stage at the comedian’s live Netflix roast to deliver a series of sharp personal jabs. 

The retired NFL quarterback, who was himself the subject of a high-profile roast in 2024, didn’t hold back as he kicked off the final night of the Netflix Is a Joke Fest.

Brady wasted no time referencing Hart’s past personal scandals, joking that he had to get back to his “affairs in Las Vegas” before asking the crowd if he wasn’t supposed to mention Las Vegas affairs, a direct nod to Hart’s admitted infidelity while in the city in 2017.

The tension on stage was high-energy and comedic, especially since Hart had spent the moments before Brady’s entrance calling the athlete a “b*tch” and claiming his own roast would be far better because he could handle the heat. 

Brady shut down the ranting host almost immediately upon entering, asking, “Jesus, do you ever shut the fIck up?” 

He then went for a particularly low blow regarding Hart’s family history, telling the comedian that unlike his actual father, he had actually shown up for him.

This appearance felt like a long-awaited comeback for Brady, who had to sit through a barrage of jokes from Hart and others during his own televised special last year. 

Brady, now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and the Aces WNBA team, played up his “busy man” persona while proving he could dish out the same level of vitriol he previously received. 

He mocked Hart for seemingly never leaving the Forum and just “screaming into that mic” for the last two years while waiting for “daddy to come home.”

The event, hosted by Shane Gillis and broadcast live from Los Angeles, featured an intensive line-up of talent ready to tear into Hart, including Chelsea Handler, Pete Davidson, Tiffany Haddish, and Regina Hall. 

While the night was filled with professional roasters, it was Brady’s unexpected arrival and his willingness to “break the rules” of polite conversation that set the tone for the evening. 

Despite the harshness of the jokes, the exchange remained in the spirit of the festival, closing out the comedy marathon with one of its most talked-about confrontations.