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In the Test series against Pakistan, Bangladesh’s top six players made significant contributions that helped their team to a historic 2-0 clean sweep. Day 5 of the second Test in Rawalpindi began with Bangladesh at 42/0, needing to reach 185 to win. In the second session, they managed to cross the line thanks to the expertise of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan.
Bangladesh won the second overseas series (minimum two matches in a series) 2-0; the first was in 2009 against the West Indies. Additionally, this was Bangladesh’s first series victory over Pakistan.
Bangladesh got off to a strong start on the last day of play because to Shadman Islam’s assured blow for a boundary off Mohammad Ali’s second ball. The pacers from Pakistan, however, also bowled well and kept the openers guessing. In Mohammad Ali’s over, there were a few play-and-misses as well as a bottom edge off Zakir Hasan’s bat that the home team failed to collect since they could not appeal.
The opening pair continued past fifty, creating Bangladesh’s first opening stand of fifty or more since December 2022. Zakir scored a solid forty, but Mir Hamza’s innings was cut short when he got one to hold the line, beat the outside edge and bowl him.
The disciplined bowling of Pakistan made it difficult for the Bangladeshi hitters to score runs. Shadman hit Hamza for a four with a full delivery on the pads following three consecutive maidens. In Hamza’s subsequent over, he also received a fortunate break when Agha Salman made a difficult diving catch to his left at second slip. Shadman hit another four in the over after putting a short ball past cover. However, he was forced to leave after trying to drive a Khurram Shahzad delivery at midoff by handing a catch.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque went on to form a strong alliance that helped Bangladesh stay on course for the chase. Bangladesh’s aim was surpassed by two well-timed fours by Najmul and an aggressive boundary from Mominul. Najmul and Mominul gained confidence after a sluggish start, and the older ball also assisted them in collecting boundaries.
Najmul even handed the ball to Hamza, who scored three runs off a misplayed shot. After the third wicket duo went past 50, the equation was reduced to 63 at lunch, with 80 runs coming off of 27 overs in the first session.
Perhaps expecting some rain, the groundsmen were preparing the covers outside the boundary ropes at the beginning of the second session. Salman and Hamza bowled a few of maidens to get Pakistan’s innings off in a clean manner. Then Najmul gave it some urgency, hitting Salman with a reverse-swept four. However, he fell shortly after, giving short leg a catch, breaking the 57-run second wicket stand.
Replays showed that Rahim attempted to sweep but was caught off guard both times Pakistan reviewed in Abrar Ahmed’s over. Bangladesh hit 150, but Pakistan held on tight even as the sky above grew a little cloudy. Mominul (34) made a mistake at mid off while trying to push the pace, giving Abrar his first wicket of the game.
At the beginning of his knock, Abrar gave Shakib some trouble, but as Bangladesh drew nearer, the left-hander calmed down and rotated the strike with Rahim. Abrar received two warnings for landing on the dangerous part of the pitch, and Shakib also smacked him for a straight six. Following a couple of singles, Shakib struck the winning boundary off Abrar, then Rahim top-edged a pull off Ali for a boundary, sending the Bangladeshi dressing room into raptures.