Before the Rawalpindi Test, discussions centered around how many wickets the Pakistani pacers would take. This was not without reason: Pakistan had included six pacers in their Test squad against Bangladesh and planned to field four of them in a spinner-less playing XI. However, the outcome defied expectations, as Pakistan’s pacers were largely spectators during the match.
Despite Pakistan’s batsmen posting a substantial total, Bangladesh’s batsmen responded in kind. In the second innings, Bangladesh’s spinners came into their own, taking wickets at regular intervals. On what was considered a batting paradise, Bangladesh’s bowlers shone brightly. This collective team effort led to a historic 10-wicket win for Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
Bangladesh needed just 30 runs in the second innings to seal the victory, and their openers reached the target with ease. This win marked Bangladesh’s first Test victory against Pakistan and their first on Pakistani soil, making it their seventh overseas Test win overall. Before this match, Bangladesh had lost all 20 matches they played in Pakistan. This Test victory was a remarkable achievement in many respects, and it was also Bangladesh’s first-ever 10-wicket win in Test cricket.
In the past three years, Bangladesh’s bowlers have maintained the best average in the second innings, taking wickets at an average of 22—the lowest in this period. A similar performance was needed in Rawalpindi, and Bangladesh’s bowlers delivered. On the fourth day of the Rawalpindi Test, Pakistan ended with 23 runs for 1 wicket in their second innings. They required 94 more runs to make Bangladesh bat again, with Abdullah Shafiq and Shan Masood at the crease. In just the second over of the day, Pakistan captain Shan Masood was caught by Liton Das.
However, Liton, who caught Masood, dropped Babar Azam in the next over off Shariful’s bowling. Babar, who was out for a duck in the first innings, narrowly avoided getting a ‘pair.’ Babar, who had not scored a half-century in Test cricket for over a year and a half, failed to capitalize on his second chance.
Nahid Rana bowled Babar Azam with an inside edge while playing a drive at 146.4 kilometers per hour when he was on 22 runs. Pakistan’s hopes then rested on Saud Shakeel. However, in the next over, Shakeel, who scored 141 in the first innings, attempted a shot while stepping out of his crease and was stumped, recording his first-ever duck in Test cricket.
With Pakistan at 67 for 4, they opted for a counter-attack strategy. Rizwan added 37 runs off 36 balls in partnership with Shafiq. Rizwan led the charge, while Shafiq played more cautiously. However, Shafiq was caught by Shadman at backward point off Shakib. In the following over, Miraz dismissed Salman Ali Agha.
Rizwan continued to fight on, scoring a fifty. However, his half-century was not enough to pose a serious challenge to Bangladesh. He was bowled by Miraz for 51 runs, leaving Pakistan on the brink of defeat. The final wicket soon followed, with Miraz trapping Pakistan’s last batsman, Mohammad Ali, LBW. Pakistan was bowled out for 146 runs, marking their lowest total against Bangladesh in Tests.
Brief Scores:
- Pakistan: 448/6 declared; Rizwan 51, Shafiq 37, Babar 22, Masood 14
- Bangladesh: 565 and 30/0 (Zakir 15, Shadman 9)
Result: Bangladesh won by 10 wickets.
Man of the Match: Mushfiqur Rahim
Series: Bangladesh leads the two-match series 1–0.
