Bangladesh on Sunday scripted history as they recorded their maiden Test win over Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Najmul Shanto’s side beat the hosts by 10 wickets after being set a modest target of 30. Opting to field first, Bangladesh had started the Test on a high, leaving Shan Masood’s men reeling at 16 for three on the opening day. However, riding on middle-order batter Saud Shakeel (141) and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan’s (171) rearguard centuries, Pakistan declared the first-innings at 448 for six.

Fielding an all-pace Test attack for the first time in 28 years, Pakistan were then put on the backfoot by Bangladesh as they racked up 565 in reply, earning a 117-run lead. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim struck a 341-ball 191, backed by able fifties from Shadman Islam (93) and Mehidy Hasan (77) to fend off Pakistan.

Historic win

Pakistan suffered a precipitous collapse on Day 5 morning after carrying over from their overnight total of 23 for 1. The team lost half their man for 104 before spinners Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan snared seven wickets to bundle Pakistan out for a paltry 146.

Bangladesh openers Islam and Zakir Hasan then erased the 30-run deficit within seven overs.

The win marked Bangladesh’s first Test win over Pakistan in 14 attempts. They had previously lost 12 matches while securing a solitary draw since their first meeting in 2001. Bangladesh have now beaten nine of the 11-Test playing teams they met. They are yet to register a win over India and South Africa.

The win marked Bangladesh’s 20th Test victory across 143 matches and seventh away from home. The Tigers have previously won in twice in the Caribbean and Zimbabwe besides solitary wins in Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Consequently, the Tigers also moved past Pakistan on the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 points table standings with their second win in five games this cycle. Pakistan slipped to the eighth spot following their fourth defeat in six games this cycle, shrinking their points percentage (PCT) to 30.55.

The teams will meet in the second Test at the same venue starting August 30.

Bangladesh’s Test wins away from home

9 July 2009: Beat West Indies by 95 runs, Kingstown
17 July 2009: Beat West Indies by 4 wickets, St George’s
25 April 2013: Beat Zimbabwe by 143 runs, Harare
15 March 2017: Beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets, Colombo
7 July 2021: Beat Zimbabwe by 220 runs, Harare
1 January 2022: Beat New Zealand by 8 wickets, Mount Maunganui
25 August 2024: Beat Pakistan by 10 wickets, Rawalpindi

Source: Indian Express

BDST: 1636 HRS, AUG 25, 2024
MN/SMS