Bangladesh’s Unbelievable 2-0 Series Sweep Against Pakistan .

PAKISTAN VS BANGLADESH, 2ND TEST REVIEW, RAWALPINDI: Bangladesh’s Unbelievable 2-0 Series Sweep Against Pakistan .

 

Pakistan endured a significant 2-0 series loss against Bangladesh as the visitors secured a 6-wicket victory in the second Test in Rawalpindi. With 143 runs required on the final day, Bangladesh faced a brief scare, having lost both openers quickly. However, due to the manageable target, even modest partnerships of 40-50 runs sufficed for Bangladesh to reach the goal. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, and Shakib Al Hasan ensured this milestone. Remarkably, this marked Bangladesh’s first away Test series win in 15 years.

TOSS-

Bangladesh won the toss & chose to field first.

Pakistan’s Playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad

Bangladesh’s Playing XI:

Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

DAY 2-

Despite notable half-centuries from Shan Masood, Saim Ayub & Salman Ali Agha—and four dropped catches—Pakistan was bowled out for 274 on the second day of the Rawalpindi Test. Mehidy Hasan Miraz inflicted the most damage for Bangladesh with figures of 5 for 61.

Taskin Ahmed made an impactful return from a shoulder injury by taking a wicket in his first over. After delivering five outswingers to Abdullah Shafique, his last ball nipped back off the seam. Caught unprepared, Shafique tried to defend but left a large gap between bat and pad. The ball went through and struck the top of off-stump.

Before lunch, Masood reached his fifty off just 54 balls—hitting only two fours—which made it the fastest fifty in Test cricket since 2002 with two or fewer boundaries.

At lunch break, Pakistan stood comfortably at 100 for 1 from 25 overs. However, post-lunch scenarios shifted as Mehidy soon dismissed Masood & Ayub in quick succession. Bowling around the wicket, he trapped Masood lbw with a delivery that straightened after pitching. Shortly after bringing up his fifty with a pulled four off Nahid Rana’s bowling—Ayub was stumped by Mehidy when he stepped out but missed.

At 151 for 4—yet again—Pakistan leaned on Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan to rescue them from trouble. But fate had different plans. Shakib caught Babar playing back to an arm ball when he should have been forward trapping him lbw. Shakib missed another chance to dismiss Agha as Zakir couldn’t hold onto a tough bat-pad catch at short leg. Rizwan fell after tea—edging Nahid Rana’s short ball to first slip.

Bangladesh openers Shadman Islam & Zakir Hasan had just two overs before stumps. Mir Hamza got an edge from Shadman on his very first ball towards fifth slip—but Saud Shakeel dropped it allowing Bangladesh to finish unscathed for the day.

Day 3-

Pakistan found themselves in a promising position thanks to pacer Shahzad’s career-best 6-90 and Mir Hamza (2-50) in the morning session, yet they faltered thereafter.

Litton Das’ impressive 138 brought Bangladesh back into the game on Day 3 of the second Test against Pakistan, before Pakistan made early breakthroughs with the ball in Rawalpindi on Sunday. Bangladesh was bowled out for 262, with Abdullah Shafique and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad back in the dugout. Earlier, Litton Das (138) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (78) had put together a crucial 165-run partnership for the seventh wicket after Shahzad and fellow pacer Mir Hamza had reduced Bangladesh to a precarious 6-26.

Das, at 29 years old, catalyzed the comeback by scoring 138 in a marathon effort lasting 333 minutes. His partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who contributed a gritty 78, was instrumental in reviving Bangladesh’s innings.

At the close of play on the third day, Bangladesh fought back, leaving Pakistan at a sluggish 9-2. Opener Abdullah Shafique was dismissed for three and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad failed to score—both wickets taken by pacer Hasan Mahmud.

Day 4-

Starting at 9 for 2 with a lead of 21 runs, Pakistan looked forward to a positive morning with Shan Masood and Saim Ayub displaying confidence. Masood began by driving Taskin down the ground while Ayub flicked him off his pads. There were some misses & cautious leaves, but the pair managed to add 34 runs in the first 6.2 overs.

Nahid came into the attack in the 17th over & struck almost immediately. He dismissed Masood with an edge to the wicketkeeper and then got Babar edging to first slip—both from deliveries that bounced more than expected. Nahid nearly removed Mohammad Rizwan first ball but Shadman dropped an almost identical catch to one he had taken earlier.

Despite looking for quick runs, Rizwan couldn’t capitalize as Bangladesh maintained tight lines, allowing no easy runs. Mahmud kept his discipline outside off stump which prompted a false shot from Rizwan, resulting in an edge to the wicketkeeper. Soon after, Mahmud had Mohammad Ali caught at first slip.

Hasan Mahmud picked up two wickets late on Day 3 and added three more on Day 4 afternoon to secure his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with figures of 5 for 43 from just over ten overs in his third Test match. Nahid Rana also achieved his best Test figures with 4 for 44 as Pakistan were bowled out for just 172 in their second innings, setting Bangladesh a target of 185. With Taskin Ahmed claiming another wicket, it marked the first instance in Bangladesh’s Test history where all ten wickets were taken by fast bowlers.

Zakir Hasan then batted positively (31 not out off just 23 balls) as Bangladesh managed to reduce their target by scoring another forty-two runs within seven overs before bad light & rain prompted an early end after tea time. Thus far needing only another one hundred forty-three runs on Day Five to secure what would be only their third overseas Test victory and first since winning against Zimbabwe back two years ago.

Day 5-

The opening duo of Zakir Hasan & Shadman Islam provided a solid start adding fifty-eight points before parting ways; While Pakistan sought wickets urgently yet found themselves confronted by determined tourists who kept chipping away steadily towards their target without giving much away…

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored thirty-eight runs whereas Mominul Haque contributed thirty-four extending Bangladesh’s grip over proceedings even further until seasoned pros Mushfiqur Rahim (22 not out) alongside Shakib Al Hasan (21 not out), finished things off creating memorable history inside Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium..

This victory signified only Bangladesh’s second-ever Test win against Pakistan following another ten-wicket triumph earlier during this series itself last month! Moreover marking just their third-ever historic achievement clinching any overall away test series wins..

And more strikingly enough becoming only second team apart from England being able sweep-wipe-clean sweeping entire series set against formidable opposition right within Pakistani heartlands themselves within Tests cricketing fraternity…