Najmul Hossain Shanto celebrated his 26th birthday in style by becoming the first Bangladesh captain to lead his team to a Test win against Pakistan. Bangladesh made history in Rawalpindi with a commanding 10-wicket victory on the fifth day of the match.
The pitch in Rawalpindi started showing more cracks, making it easier for the spinners to take control. Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan took full advantage of the conditions, bundling out Pakistan for just 146 runs, their lowest Test score against Bangladesh. This left Bangladesh needing only 30 runs to win, which they chased down easily.
Pakistan began the final day at 23/1, still trailing by 94 runs after Mushfiqur Rahim’s brilliant 191 on Day 4. The Bangladesh bowlers made sure Mushfiqur’s effort didn’t go to waste, as they quickly got into Pakistan’s top order. Hasan Mahmud struck early, getting Shan Masood out with a nick to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Pakistan captain Babar Azam had a close call when he almost got out on his first ball, but Litton couldn’t hold onto the catch. However, Babar soon started to find his rhythm, hitting a solid four off Mahmud.
Just when Babar and Abdullah Shafique seemed to be settling in, fast bowler Nahid Rana got Babar out, bowled for 22. After this, the spin duo of Shakib and Mehidy took over and sped up Pakistan’s downfall. Saud Shakeel, who had scored a century in the first innings, was stumped for a duck as he tried to hit Shakib’s delivery.
Mohammad Rizwan showed some fight and took Pakistan’s score past 100 with the help of Shafique. But Shakib soon dismissed Shafique, who hit the ball straight to backward point. Pakistan then quickly lost another wicket as Agha Salman edged one from Mehidy Hasan, and Shadman Islam took a sharp catch at first slip.
After Lunch, Pakistan’s resistance faded further. Shaheen Afridi was trapped LBW by Mehidy, and then Naseem Shah was caught at short mid-wicket trying to hit Shakib. Rizwan continued to resist, scoring a gritty 51 off 80 balls. But Mehidy eventually got him out with a clever change of angle, bowling him out with an inside edge. Mehidy then finished off the innings by dismissing Mohammad Ali LBW, ending Pakistan’s innings at 146.
Bangladesh’s openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam chased down the 30-run target in just seven overs, sealing a historic 10-wicket win.
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) August 25, 2024
Brief Scores:
Pakistan: 448/6 decl. (Mohammad Rizwan 171*, Saud Shakeel 141; Hasan Mahmud 2-70) & 146 (Mohammad Rizwan 51; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-21, Shakib Al Hasan 3-44)
Bangladesh: 565 (Mushfiqur Rahim 191, Shadman Islam 93, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 77; Naseem Shah 3-93, Shaheen Afridi 2-88) & 30/0
Bangladesh won by 10 wickets.