Bangladesh had no answer when Shoaib hit top gear

Shoaib Akhtar produced a devastating spell of pace bowling to put Pakistan in with a chance of a series-clinching win.

He took five wickets in three overs as Bangladesh slumped from 310-2 to 320-8 after Javed Omar had completed his maiden Test century.

Shoaib later rounded off the innings with the wicket of Khaled Mahmud to finish with 6-49.

The home side made a solid start in reply, with Taufeeq Umar 60 not out and Inzamam-ul-Haq on 24 at the close.

It was a stunning collapse by Bangladesh, but the total was still their best since their maiden Test against India in November 2000.

Omar, who was 96 not out overnight, reached three figures off 292 balls with a thick edge to third man for a single.

It was only the fifth century by a Bangladesh batsman in 23 Tests played by the team - 21 of which have ended in defeat.

The others were scored by Aminul Islam, Mohammad Ashraful and Habibul Bashar, the latter the only man to do so twice.

Resuming on 240-2, the Tigers resisted Pakistan's thrust for an early breakthrough with Omar and Mohammad Ashraful continuing where they left off in Wednesday's final session.

When the score reached 265, they achieved a new third wicket record partnership for Bangladesh, beating the 84 by Omar and Islam against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo almost two and a half years ago.

Omar's patient innings lasted over eight hours

Omar's innings finally came to an end when he missed a swinging yorker from Shoaib and was bowled for 119.

In his next over, Shoaib accounted for Ashraful, who was caught behind for 77 after top edging an attempted hook shot, and Khaled Mashud before adding the wickets of Alok Kapali and Mohammad Rafique.

Pakistan went along at five an over in reply, with newcomer Alamgir Kabir conceding 49 from his opening seven overs in Test cricket.

Mahmud dismissed Mohammed Hafeez (21) and spinner Mohammad Rafique bowled Yasir Hameed (23), a double centurion in Karachi.

But it was Bangladesh's final success and Inzamam ended a good day for Pakistan by pulling the penultimate ball,bowled by Ashraful, for four through mid-wicket.

Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 following a seven-wicket victory in Karachi.

Pakistan: Taufiq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Malik, Rashid Latif (captain), Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Umer Gul, Danish Kaneria.

Bangladesh: Khaled Mahmud (captain), Hannan Sarkar, Javed Omar, Habibul Bashar, Rajin Saleh, Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kapali, Khaled Mashud, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Rafique, Alamgir Kabir.

Umpires: S A Bucknor and R B Tiffin.