Bangladesh registered a historic win against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in the first Test today (August 25), beating them by ten wickets after Pakistan had declared in the first innings.
When Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood came out to bat on day five, not even the most optimistic of Bangladesh fans would have imagined things to turn out the way they did. At 23-1, Pakistan were trailing by 94 runs with nine wickets in hand on a typically flat Rawalpindi surface that had seen only 17 wickets fall in the first four days.
Yet, somehow, Pakistan capitulated like only Pakistan could. Masood went early, in the second over of the day. Babar Azam could have been dismissed for his second duck of the game a few balls later before Litton Das spilled the catch. But Pakistan couldn't latch on to the lifeline they were given.
From 66-2, they collapsed to 118-8, with spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz the chief architects of the collapse. Mohammad Rizwan stuck around as the last ray of hope, but once he was dismissed with the score at 142, the writing was on the wall. Pakistan eventually finished on 146, setting Bangladesh a measly 30 to win.
It didn't take the visiting team more than 6.3 overs to gun down the target.
Also read: Watch: Frustrated Shakib Al Hasan hurls ball after Mohammad Rizwan pulls out of delivery
First ever Test victory against Pakistan
Before this game, Bangladesh had met Pakistan 13 times in Tests. Twelve of those encounters ended in defeat for them, with one being drawn. This makes the Rawalpindi victory Bangladesh's first ever against Pakistan in Test cricket, 23 years after first having played against them in the format. Naturally, this is also their first Test victory in Pakistan, in six attempts.
Pakistan have become the ninth team against whom Bangladesh have registered a Test win. The only two opponents against whom Bangladesh are yet to win a Test are India (13 matches) and South Africa (14 matches).
Mushfiqur Rahim's consistent improvement in Test cricket has put him in contention to be called Bangladesh's best batter ever in the format.@exceedingxpuns looks at just how good has his late-career surge been.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 24, 2024
READ: https://t.co/1XX7ll0Eke#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/UIHd5pmeLu
Defeat after declaration
Earlier in the game, Pakistan had declared their first innings at 448-6, with Saud Shakeel (141) and Rizwan (171 not out) doing the bulk of the scoring. Bangladesh had never scored more than 361 in a Test innings in Pakistan before this game, which might have played a part in Pakistan's decision to declare.
However, in their batting innings, Bangladesh shattered perceptions and records to score a mammoth 565 and take a 117-run lead. Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 191 and was supported by Shadman Islam (93), Mominul Haque (50), Litton Das (56), and Mehidy Hasan (77).
Pakistan finished day four at 23-1, and would have felt relatively safe at that point, but they Bangladesh spinners, who shared seven wickets amongst themselves in a game where Pakistan went in with no frontline spinner, had other ideas.
Final score: Pakistan 448-6d (Mohammad Rizwan 171*, Hasan Mahmud 2-70) & 146 (Mohammad Rizwan 51, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-21) LOST to Bangladesh 565 (Mushfiqur Rahim 191, Naseem Shah 3-93) & 30-0 (Zakir Hasan 15*, Naseem Shah 0-7) by 10 wickets.
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