Bangladesh, inspired again by in-form Habibul Bashar, frustrated Pakistan on the first day of the third and final Test on Wednesday, reaching 248 for six at the close.

Riding on another fine innings from Bashar (72) and a sixth wicket stand of 62 between Rajin Saleh (49) and Khaled Mashud (29 not out), underdogs Bangladesh gave a good account of themselves.

The partnership came to an unlucky end when a drive by Mashud ricocheted off Test debutant Yasir Ali's foot and struck the stumps at the non-striker's end leaving Saleh just short of the crease and one run away from a well-deserved 50.

Bangladesh are playing for pride as Pakistan seek a clean sweep after winning the first two Tests in Karachi and Peshawar.

As in the first two matches, Bangladesh won the toss and batted first, making a respectable start.

Bashar was outstanding and continued his purple patch of the first two Tests when he hit 71, 108, 97 and 28.

His score of 72 here was his 15th Test half century and his third in the series, giving him an excellent record of a century and six half centuries in six Tests against Pakistan.

Coming in after Hannan Sarkar had fallen for 13 with the total at 28, Bashar forged a strong stand of 74 with Javed Omar, who hit seven fours in his 38.

Then, playing with increasing confidence, Bashar overcame the quick losses of Omar who was caught at second slip by Younis Khan off paceman Umar Gul and Mohammad Ashraful, trapped leg before by spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

But he fell to a loose shot and was the fourth man out with the total at 166 immediately after tea when 17-year-old paceman Ali enticed him to edge a catch behind to Rashid Latif.

Alok Kapali was then bowled all ends up by Pakistan's most effective bowler Gul who ended with three for 71 from 27 overs.

Kapali's departure made it 179 for 5 but then the obdurate Saleh and veteran Mashud brought Bangladesh back into the match.

Pakistan made five changes, recalling Younis Khan and Saqlain and awarding test caps to Ali, 19-year old opener Salman Butt and middle order batsman Farhan Adil.

Ali was preferred to leg spinner Danish Kaneria who had 12 wickets in the first two Tests and took 12 wickets in his last appearance at this venue, also against Bangladesh.

Scoreboard

Bangladesh (1st innings):
Hannan Sarkar c Rashid Latif b Umar Gul 13
Javed Omar c Younis Khan b Umar Gul 38
Habibul Bashar c Rashid Latif b Yasir Ali 72
Mohammad Ashraful lbw Saqlain Mushtaq 12
Rajin Saleh run out Yasir Ali 49
Alok Kapali b Umar Gul 11
Khaled Mashud not out 29
Khaled Mahmud not out 1

Extras: (lb-7, b-4, nb-12) 23

Total: (for six wickets, 90 overs) 248

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-102, 3-136, 4-166, 5-179, 6-241

To bat: Mohammad Rafique, Tapash Baisya, Manjural Islam

Bowling: Shabbir Ahmed 21-3-55-0 (nb-5), Umar Gul 27-6-71-3 (nb-6), Yasir Ali 14-4-43-1, Saqlain Mushtaq 25-5-61-1(nb-1), Mohammad Hafeez 3-1-7-0.

Pakistan: Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Farhan Adil, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq, Yasir Ali, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed.