Rawalpindi, August 25, 2024, The Europe Today: Bangladesh achieved a historic triumph by outclassing Pakistan in the first Test match held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, thanks to an exceptional bowling performance that dismantled the Pakistani batting lineup on the final day of the match.
On Sunday, Bangladesh’s bowlers excelled, dismissing Pakistan for 146 in their second innings. Chasing a modest target of 30 runs, Bangladeshi openers Zakir Hasan (15) and Shadman Islam (9) achieved the target in just 6.3 overs, sealing Bangladesh’s first-ever win against Pakistan in Test cricket.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan began their second innings at 23-1 but struggled to build a significant partnership. Key batsmen, including Shan Masood (14), Babar Azam (22), Saud Shakeel (0), Abdullah Shafique (37), and Salman Ali Agha (0), fell rapidly under pressure from the Bangladeshi bowlers. Mohammad Rizwan provided a notable resistance with a half-century, scoring 51 runs before being dismissed by Mehidy Hasan.
Pakistan’s tail-end batsmen, including Nasheem Shah (3), Shaheen Afridi (2), and Mohammad Ali (0), could not withstand the Bangladeshi attack, and the side was ultimately bowled out for 146.
On the fourth day, Bangladesh had already established a commanding position by taking a 117-run lead, having scored 565 in response to Pakistan’s 448/6. Mushfiqur Rahim played a standout role with a stellar innings of 191 off 341 balls.
The day commenced with Bangladesh at 316-5. Despite Shah removing Litton Das early on, Rahim continued to dominate the Pakistani bowlers and completed a century, becoming the third batter to score a ton in this Test. He and Hasan formed a formidable partnership, putting Pakistan on the back foot. Rahim fell short of a double century, dismissed for 191 by Ali. Pakistan managed to conclude Bangladesh’s innings after Rahim’s dismissal, with Afridi taking the wickets of Mahmud and Mehidy, and Shah removing Islam, who had scored 22 off 14 balls.
This Test match is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25, with both teams striving to enhance their positions on the WTC points table. Historically, Pakistan has dominated the fixture, winning 12 out of 13 matches played between the two sides, with one match ending in a draw.
The second Test will commence at the same venue on August 30 and run until September 3, promising another exciting chapter in this cricketing rivalry.
