Bangladesh’s Landmark 2-0 Test Series Victory Over Pakistan
A major turning point in Bangladesh’s cricketing history unfolds when its batters shine as they win the second Test by six wickets.
On the fifth day of the second Test in Rawalpindi, Bangladesh achieved a historic six-wicket victory over Pakistan to seal a 2-0 Test series sweep. With this victory, Bangladesh has completed its third-highest run chase in Test cricket history, highlighting their impressive rise to prominence internationally.
Key Performances and Match Results
Bangladesh 262 (Litton 138, Mehidy 78, Shahzad 6-90) and 185 for 4 (Zakir 40, Agha 1-17).
Pakistan 274 (Ayub 58, Masood 57, Agha 54, Mehidy 5-61, Taskin 3-57) and 172 (Agha 47*, Mahmud 5-43, Rana 4-44).
Bangladesh won by six wickets.
Match Analysis
Bangladesh’s batsmen remained tall and made significant contributions throughout what will go down as a red-letter day in the country’s cricket history as they defeated Pakistan by six wickets on the fifth afternoon in Rawalpindi, completing a 2-0 clean sweep.
After chasing 185, Zakir Hasan scored 40, Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto made consistent 30-run innings, and the accomplished duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan completed the task, setting off fireworks in the Bangladeshi changing room. Bangladesh approached their third-highest successful chase in Test cricket with a sense of composure.
In Bangladeshi cricket, winning an overseas Test match is extremely uncommon, much alone a series. They had only won three Test series abroad and only four of the previous seven years’ twenty Tests played abroad.
Pakistan’s suffering increased as a result of this defeat, which made their losing streak at home in Test matches eleven. They have suffered six losses and four draws since defeating South Africa in early February 2021. Among those losses were series losses to Australia, England, and now Bangladesh.
With eight wickets remaining, Bangladesh needed to score 63 runs by the start of the second session. Though he didn’t last long, Shanto attempted a few reverse sweeps and even scored a four through backward point. He bunted a straight delivery from Salman Agha to Abdullah Shafique at short leg, resulting in the softest of dismissals.
After Shanto fell, Mominul became very active, despite being largely calm during the first session. Before hitting another four against Mir Hamza, though this time off an edge, he sent Agha through a point. In a state of desperation for wickets by that point, Pakistan burned two reviews in two balls for leg before wicket calls against Mushfiqur; on both occasions, there was an inside edge onto the pad.
Mominul mistimed Abrar Ahmed’s throw right to mid-off, and his anger overcame him. However, Shakib and Mushfiqur made sure there were no more mistakes. They crept toward the goal, rarely played a shot in rage, and took their time. After hitting Abrar for four straight sixes to reduce the target to under 20, Shakib went on to strike the winning four through covers off the same bowler. Bangladesh moved up to fourth place in the World Test Championship standings with the victory, surpassing England.
Bangladesh restarted from 42 for no loss in the morning. Shadman Islam got things started with a clean square cut, but for the opening forty-five minutes, the Pakistani bowlers set the terms. As Zakir seemed to miss a good-length ball outside off, Mohammad Ali ought to have claimed his wicket. Although the bottom edge was visible on the replays, none of the fielders filed an appeal.
But Zakir’s life was short. Hamza got a ball to angle in from the over-the-wicket line after he had located the perfect location on excellent length outside off. It took the top off the stump and defeated Zakir’s outside edge.
To guarantee no easy runs, Hamza and Ali bowled a series of dot balls. Eventually, on his tenth ball, Shanto struck, marking the first runs in 25 deliveries. Then, Hamza got Shadman to hit a thick outside edge with his bat, but it sailed to Agha’s left at second slip. Despite his heroic efforts, he was unable to latch on and dove one-handed. It was a catch that would have qualified for third slip, but it was left unfilled.
Shadman did not take much advantage of the reprieve, falling to a wayward drive eight balls later. Shan Masood was buoyed up by Khurram Shahzad’s first full outside off, which he bowled on the up and straight.
But Pakistan’s dreams of a resurgence were dashed by Shanto and Mominul. The ball managed to elude the fielders despite the hosts’ best efforts to draw the unusual edge. Knowing that time was not an issue, Shanto and Mominul took their time taking down the objective.
Mominul was happy with singles, but Shanto continued to go the aggressive route occasionally, uppishly flicking Ali through midwicket and then slamming Shahzad to the ground. Mominul only displayed aggression once, when he slog-swept Abrar for four runs through midwicket.
Shanto and Mominul made it till lunchtime, but Masood rang in the adjustments and brought Hamza back. Pakistan eventually managed to remove the two, but their total runs conceded was too great, and they lost in front of a small home audience.
