Historic Win for Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Overview of the Test Series
In a remarkable turn of events, Bangladesh emerged victorious against Pakistan by six wickets in the second Test match held at Rawalpindi. This triumph has granted Bangladesh their first-ever Test series win over Pakistan, culminating in a significant 2-0 series whitewash. Consequently, Bangladesh’s remarkable performance has catapulted them to the fourth position in the World Test Championship standings.
Initially, Pakistan appeared dominant, putting Bangladesh in a precarious position at 26/6 during the first innings. Despite the challenging start, the situation was dramatically altered by a stellar 165-run partnership between Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz for the seventh wicket. Their contributions were pivotal; Litton Das scored a century while Mehidy Hasan Miraz added 78 runs, helping Bangladesh achieve a respectable total of 262—just 12 runs short of Pakistan’s score.
Although Khurram Shahzad’s impressive six-wicket haul for Pakistan initially seemed promising, the team’s batting performance declined, resulting in a narrow 21-run lead by the end of Day 3.
On the fourth day, Pakistan began with a strong showing as Shan Masood and Saim Ayub exhibited potential. However, Taskin Ahmed’s early breakthrough triggered a collapse in Pakistan’s batting lineup. Hasan Mahmud’s outstanding performance, including his maiden five-wicket haul, was instrumental in dismantling the Pakistani order. Pakistan was eventually all out for 172, setting Bangladesh a target of 185 runs for victory.
The chase by Bangladesh was steady and confident. Zakir Hasan made a significant contribution before adverse weather conditions caused delays. On the final day, Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto moved the team closer to victory. After their dismissals, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim ensured a smooth conclusion to the match. This victory not only secured a historic win for Bangladesh but also left Pakistan to ponder their missed chances throughout the series.
