Mirpur: Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 104 runs in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The win marked Bangladesh’s first ever Test win against Pakistan at home and extended their winning streak against Pakistan to three consecutive matches after a 2-0 whitewash in Rawalpindi in 2024.
Resuming the final at 116-3, Pakistan were bowled out for 163 in 52.5 overs.
The visitors suffered an early setback as Taskin Ahmed struck in the opening over, dismissing Imam-ul-Haq for two in five balls.
Despite the early blow, Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal steadied the innings with a crucial 50-run partnership for the second wicket, easing the pressure and rebuilding the momentum.
However, the stand ended at 54 when Azan was dismissed for 15 off 33 balls after Mehdi Hasan hit a boundary off Miraz and Pakistan struggled to 57-2 in 12.1 overs.
Things got worse when Nahid Rana dismissed skipper Shaun Masood cheaply for two runs off five balls.
Having scored 66 off 113 balls including 11 fours to form a 51-run partnership with Salman Ali Agha, Taijul Islam struck early and dismissed Abdullah Fazal as an lbw.
In the very next over, Taskin Ahmed took his crucial second wicket with a 39-ball 26, including a boundary, to dismiss Salman Agha as the team struggled to 121-5 in 32.4 overs.
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel came into bat and scored crucial runs from their bats to help build a solid stand as the team’s total crossed the 150-run mark.
However, Nahid Rana picked up his second wicket of the ball and sent South off 15 off 32 balls with 2 fours.
Having scored 15 runs off 46 balls, including a boundary, Rana struck again to put Pakistan in all sorts of trouble.
Taijul dismissed Hasan Ali lbw in 7 balls as wickets continued to fall for Pakistan. Nahid Rana then dismissed Noman Ali for four to claim his fourth wicket.
Rana ended the innings by ducking the wicket of Shaheen Afridi.
Nahit Rana starred with figures of 5/40 in 9.5 overs. Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed took 2 wickets and Mehidi Hasan Miraz took one wicket.
Resuming play on the final day at 152-3 in 50.3 overs, Bangladesh added another 88 runs to declare for 240-9 and set Pakistan a target of 268 runs.
Captain Najmul Hossain Santo once again led the way with a 150-ball 87 with 7 boundaries. Mominul Haq scored 56 runs off 120 balls including 4 fours.
Mehidi Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim departed with 24 and 22 runs respectively, while the rest of the batsmen failed to make a significant contribution.
On the fourth day, Pakistan’s bowlers entered Bangladesh’s second innings earlier. First, Mohammad Abbas was trapped by Mahmud Hasan Joy lbw for 5 off 26 balls.
Hasan Ali dismissed Shadman Islam for 10 off 22 balls, even after a brief counterattack that included two fours.
However, Bangladesh bounced back strongly through Mominul Haq and Najmul Hossain Shando, who formed a harmonious and decisive partnership.
The pair put on a 105-run stand to guide the hosts past 50, both reaching half-centuries and guiding Bangladesh to 100.
Shaheen Shah Afridi eventually dismissed Mominul for 56 to reduce Bangladesh to 128-3 in 42.5 overs.
For Pakistan, Hasan Ali and Noman Ali took 3 wickets each, Shaheen Shah Afridi took 2 wickets and Mohammad Abbas took one wicket.
Batting first, Bangladesh were bowled out for 413 runs in 117.1 overs. Key contributions came from Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim.
After a shaky start at 31-2, Huq and Shando steadied the innings with a crucial partnership of 170 runs.
Both reached half-centuries and Sandhu converted his century. Huq scored 91 off 200 balls with 10 fours while Santo scored 101 off 130 balls including 12 fours and 2 sixes.
Mushfiqur Rahim scored 71 runs off 179 balls while Liton Das and Taskin Ahmed added 33 and 28 runs respectively.
Mohammad Abbas led Pakistan’s bowling to 5-92 in 34 overs, with Shaheen Shah Afridi claiming three wickets and Hasan Ali and Noman Ali taking one each.
In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 386 runs in 100.3 overs.
Strong performances came from debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal along with Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan. Azaan scored 103 runs, Abdullah scored 60 runs, Salman scored 58 runs and Rizwan scored 59 runs.
Mehidi Hasan Miraz took 5-102 for Bangladesh, while Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam took two wickets each and Nahid Rana took one.