Bangladesh achieved a monumental victory in Test cricket, defeating Pakistan by 10 wicketson the final day of the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This win markedBangladesh’s first-ever Test triumph over Pakistan, breaking a streak of 15 matches withouta win. The match was defined by outstanding performances from Bangladesh’s spinners,who dominated Pakistan’s batting lineup on the last day.
Bangladesh’s Spin Mastery
Entering Day 5, Pakistan was at 23/1, trailing Bangladesh by 94 runs in the first innings. The
pressure was on Pakistan to mount a resilient performance, but Bangladesh’s bowlers,
particularly the spin duo of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan, had other plans.
Mehidy Hasan, who finished with figures of 4/21, and Shakib Al Hasan, who claimed 3/44,
spun a web around the Pakistani batsmen.
The collapse began early in the day when Hasan Mahmud struck in just the second over,
dismissing Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood for 14 runs. Masood’s attempt to defend a
delivery resulted in an edge that was comfortably taken by Litton Das behind the stumps,
setting the tone for Pakistan’s downfall.
Babar Azam’s Struggles and Resilience
The focus then shifted to Babar Azam, who was expected to anchor Pakistan’s innings after
a disappointing first-innings performance. Azam’s stay at the crease was marred by early
jitters when he was dropped by Litton Das on zero. However, he quickly capitalized on this
second chance, playing some fluent strokes to reach 22 runs, including three boundaries.
His promising start was cut short when Nahid Rana bowled a delivery that Azam
inside-edged onto his stumps, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position at 66/3.
Spin Twins Tighten the Noose Following Azam’s dismissal, first-innings centurion Saud Shakeel entered the fray with high
expectations. However, he failed to replicate his earlier heroics, falling to Shakib Al Hasan
for a four-ball duck. Shakib’s delivery tempted Shakeel out of his crease, and Litton Das
made no mistake in stumping him, reducing Pakistan to 67/4. Mohammad Rizwan, another
century-maker from the first innings, joined opener Abdullah Shafique at the crease. The pair
briefly counter-attacked, adding 37 runs in just 35 balls, but their efforts to reduce the deficit
were short-lived.
Shafique, who looked set for a significant score, misjudged a shot against Shakib Al Hasan.
Attempting an aggressive stroke, he got a leading edge, and the ball was caught by
Shadman Islam near backward point. His dismissal for 37 off 86 deliveries was a crucial
blow to Pakistan’s hopes.
Pakistan’s Lower Order Collapse
After Shafique’s departure, the wickets tumbled in quick succession. Mehidy Hasan struck
immediately after, removing Agha Salman for a golden duck, leaving Pakistan in deeper
trouble. As the team went into lunch at 108/6, trailing Bangladesh by nine runs, Rizwan and
Shaheen Afridi were left with a daunting task.
Post-lunch, Bangladesh sensed victory and continued their onslaught. Mehidy Hasan
dismissed Shaheen Afridi, and Shakib Al Hasan soon got rid of Naseem Shah for just three
runs. This left Pakistan reeling at 118/8. Amidst the chaos, Rizwan showcased some
resilience, reaching his half-century and briefly giving Pakistan a glimmer of hope by pushing
their lead to 25 runs.
But the end was near. Bangladesh’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, reintroduced Mehidy
Hasan into the attack, and the off-spinner immediately delivered by bowling Rizwan for 51.
With Rizwan’s departure, Pakistan’s innings quickly unraveled. Mehidy Hasan cleaned up
the tail, dismissing Mohammad Ali for a duck, sealing Pakistan’s fate at 146 all out.
Bangladesh’s Batting Prowess
The chase for Bangladesh was straightforward. Needing just 30 runs for victory, openers
Zakir Hasan and Shadnam Islam batted confidently to take their team to a historic win
without losing a wicket. Their unbeaten stand not only ensured a comfortable win but also
allowed Bangladesh to celebrate a memorable moment in their cricket history.
Bangladesh’s victory was built on a solid first-innings performance with the bat. Thanks to
centuries from Mohammad Rizwan (171*) and Saud Shakeel (141), after opting to bat first.
A New Dawn for Bangladesh Cricket
This victory is a landmark achievement for Bangladesh cricket, reflecting their growth and
development in the Test arena. The team’s departments demonstrated their capability to
compete against stronger teams in challenging conditions.
As Bangladesh celebrates this historic win, they will look to build on this momentum and
continue to make strides in international cricket. Meanwhile, Pakistan will need to regroup
and address the gaps exposed by the Bangladesh team’s relentless performance in
Rawalpindi.
