Sylhet: Hosts Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 78 runs in a historic 2-0 whitewash against the visitors in the second and final Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing 437 runs, Pakistan were bowled out for 358 runs in 97.2 overs by spinner Taijul Islam.
Mohammed Rizwan and Sajid Khan, who resumed their innings in the first session of the fifth day, added quick runs after a brief rain delay, putting on a crucial 50-run partnership to take the team’s total past 350.
However, the 54-run stand was broken when Taijul Islam dismissed Sajid Khan for 28 off 36 balls, including 5 fours.
In the very next over, Pakistan were reduced to nine as Shoriful Islam smashed 94 off 166 balls with 10 boundaries to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan.
Taijul took his sixth wicket to end the visitors’ innings, ducking Khurram Shahzad to end the match.
Taijul Islam led the bowling in the final innings as he recorded 6/120 in 34.2 overs. Nahid Rana took 2 wickets while Shoribul Islam and Mehidi Hasan Miraz took one wicket each.
Earlier on the fourth day, Pakistan got off to a cautious start with Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal before Nahid Rana removed Fazal for six to end a 27-run opening stand. Mehdi Hasan then dismissed Miraz Azan for 21 as Pakistan slipped to 41-2.
Babar Azam and Shaun Masood rebuilt the innings with a valuable partnership that took Pakistan past 100. However, Bangladesh bounced back in the second session as Nahit Rana and Taijul Islam removed Babar, South Shakeel and Shaun in quick succession.
Babar struggled to score 47 runs off 52 balls, South managed just 6 runs. Shaun Masood scored a top-scoring 71 off 116 balls to put Pakistan under pressure before Taijul fell and Rizwan and Salman revived the chase.
Continuing their chase in the final session, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha held firm against Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack, frustrating the hosts with a crucial 134-run sixth-wicket partnership that eased the early pressure on Pakistan.
Rizwan anchored the innings with his 14th Test half-century, while Salman Ali Agha scored his 12th first-class half-century in red-ball cricket as Pakistan passed 250.
However, Taijul Islam scored 71 off 102 balls with 6 fours and a six to dismiss Salman.
With Hasan Ali dismissed, Taijul took his fourth wicket and suffocated the visitors to 304-7 in 83.2 overs.
Earlier, Bangladesh were bowled out for 278 after being bowled out for 116-6 in their first innings. Liton Das scored 126 off 159 balls including 16 fours and 2 sixes.
Pakistan bowled with Khurram Shahzad taking 4 wickets for 81 runs, Mohammad Abbas 3 wickets, Hasan Ali 2 wickets and Sajid Khan 1 wicket.
Pakistan were bowled out for 232, trailing by 46 runs. Babar Azam scored 68 runs and Sajid Khan scored 38 runs.
Bangladesh scored 390 in their second innings, setting a tough target of 437 for Pakistan. Mushfiqur Rahim scored 137 runs supported by Liton Das and Mahmud Hasan Joy.
Khurram Shahzad again claimed four wickets, while Sajid Khan claimed three wickets, with Hasan Ali and Abbas sharing the rest of the scalps.