Bangladesh is on the brink of securing their first-ever Test series victory against Pakistan as they enter the final day of the second match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Resuming their innings at 42-0 on Tuesday, the visitors are chasing a target of 185 runs, and the score currently stands at 123-2. With skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (34*) and Mominul Haque (20*) at the crease, Bangladesh needs just 62 more runs to make history.
Earlier in the day, openers Zakir Hasan (40) and Shadman Islam (24) provided a solid start before falling to Pakistan’s Mir Hamza and Khurram Shahzad, respectively. The Bangladesh bowlers set the stage for this chase by bowling out Pakistan for just 172 in their second innings. Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana were the stars with the ball, taking five and four wickets respectively, wreaking havoc on the Pakistani batting lineup.
Pakistan began the day at 9/2 but struggled to build momentum. Despite a brief resistance from Saim Ayub, who scored 20 off 35 balls, and skipper Shan Masood, the team couldn’t recover. Mohammad Rizwan added a crucial 43 runs, while Salman Agha’s unbeaten 47 provided some resistance. However, Mahmud’s exceptional bowling performance, which earned him his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, ensured that Pakistan’s innings ended at 172.
In Bangladesh’s first innings, they were in danger of a collapse at 26-6, but a resilient 138 from Litton Das and 78 from Mehidy Hasan Miraz helped them recover to 262 all out. Khurram Shahzad was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, taking six wickets on the third day.
As Bangladesh inches closer to this historic win, they aim to not only clinch the series but also make a significant statement in their Test cricket journey.
