In a landmark moment for Bangladesh cricket, the Tigers scripted history by registering their maiden Test victory against Pakistan.
Bangladesh defeated the hosts by a comprehensive margin of 10 wickets in the opening match of the two-Test series played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz Stars With the Ball
Bangladesh’s victory was set up by an impressive bowling performance, led by off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz. In the first innings, Miraz picked up 3 wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 448.
He followed it up with a match-defining spell in the second innings, claiming 4 wickets for just 21 runs as Pakistan collapsed to 146 all out.
Miraz’s bowling partner, Shakib Al Hasan, also chipped in with 3 wickets in the second innings to help Bangladesh gain the upper hand. The visitors’ bowlers exploited the conditions well and maintained consistent pressure on the Pakistani batters throughout the match.
Mushfiqur Rahim’s Brilliant Ton Puts Bangladesh in Control
Bangladesh’s batting was anchored by a brilliant 191-run knock from veteran Mushfiqur Rahim in the first innings.
Rahim’s marathon innings, along with useful contributions from Shadman Islam (93) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (77), helped Bangladesh post 565 runs on the board, gaining a crucial 117-run lead over Pakistan’s first innings total.
Rahim’s patient and well-crafted innings was the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s impressive batting display. He batted for over 6 hours, facing 326 deliveries, and hit 22 boundaries in his unbeaten knock.
Rahim’s resilience and skill in the face of Pakistan’s bowling attack proved to be the difference between the two teams.
Bangladesh Openers Chase Down Target With Ease
Chasing a modest target of 30 runs to win, Bangladesh openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam made light work of the chase, scoring the required runs without losing any wickets.
The pair’s unbeaten 30-run partnership sealed Bangladesh’s historic victory and marked a significant milestone in their cricketing journey.
The win is particularly special for Bangladesh, as they had never defeated Pakistan in a Test match before. In the 13 previous encounters between the two teams, Pakistan had won 12 matches, while one ended in a draw.
Bangladesh’s triumph in Rawalpindi has broken this jinx and will undoubtedly boost the team’s confidence going into the second Test and future series.
