By Alam Zeb Safi
SYLHET, Bangladesh: A world record chase was in sight. It could have been incredible. When Mohammad Rizwan and Sajid Khan were moving towards the target it seemed that a history would be re-written after 22 years.
However it did not happen. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam first removed Sajid to break the 54-run eighth wicket stand and then Shoriful Islam sent Rizwan back to end the hopes. Taijul also then got rid of Khurram Shahzad to fold the Green-shirts for 358. Rizwan’s fine 94 featured ten fours.
Bangladesh sealed the series 2-0, the second time they did it against Pakistan in two years. They had downed Pakistan 2-0 in Rawalpindi in 2024.
The triumph also marks Bangladesh’s first-ever Test series victory against Pakistan at their own backyard.
Pakistan entered the final phase of the match with hopes of pulling off a miraculous victory but it could not be materialised. Rizwan was left disappointed after he lost his wicket. He stood at his crease for some time not believing what happened to him before leaving the pitch in utter dejection. He fell just six runs short of what could be his fourth Test century. He faced 166 deliveries.
Earlier in the innings on Tuesday after losing openers Abdullah Fazal (6) and Azan Awais (21) cheaply skipper Shan Masood (71) and Babar Azam (47) shared a 92-run partnership for the third wicket which helped Pakistan resurrect the innings.
It was Taijul Islam who removed Babar, held behind the stumps by Litton Das after former Pakistan captain thin-edged a delivery on the leg-stump. Babar hit four fours and one six in his fine knock.
Saud Shakeel, who was off-colour in the entire series, joined Shan but he once again failed to deliver and removed by Nahid Rana when he chased a delivery wide on off-stump with Litton Das taking an easy catch behind the stumps.
Soon afterwards Shan Masood was undone by Taijul, held by Mehmudul Hasan Joy at short leg and Pakistan were now reeling at 162-5. Shan hit eight fours in his 116-ball knock.
However at this stage Agha Salman and Rizwan applied themselves and shared 134 runs for the sixth wicket association to keep Pakistan in the hunt.
After the new ball was taken towards close of the Day-4 Taijul broke the dangerous stand when he clean bowled Agha. It was a straighter delivery, went past the gate between pad and bat to crash the stumps.
And this wicket tilted the game towards Bangladesh. Agha faced 102 balls and hit six fours and a six in his chanceless knock.
Taijul then removed Hasan Ali (0) to add to Pakistan’s misery just before stumps. Pakistan closed Day-5 at 316-7 and they needed 121 more runs to achieve what could have been an incredible victory.
But it did not happen under overcast conditions when movement was seen and Taijul was getting a sharp break also.
Sajid extended handy support to Rizwan, falling on 28 of 36 balls, which carried five fours. Taijul took 6-120, finishing with 9-187. Nahid Rana got 2-71 with match figures of 5-131.
Stumper Litton Das was declared as man of the match while veteran Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged as man of the series for scoring 253 runs.
Scorecard
Bangladesh 1st innings 278 all out (Litton Das 126, Khurram Shahzad 4-81, Mohammad Abbas 3-45
Pakistan 1st innings 232 all out (Babar Azam 68, Nahid Rana 3-60, Taijul Islam 3-67
Bangladesh 2nd innings 390 (Mushfiqur Rahim 137, Litton Das 67, Khurram Shahzad 4-86, Sajid Khan 3-126
Pakistan 2nd innings 358 (Mohammad Rizwan 94, Agha Salman 71, Shan Masood 71, Babar Azam 47; Taijul Islam 6-120, Nahid Rana 2-71
Day-5 Pakistan’s 2nd innings
Sajid Khan c Najmul Hossain Shanto b Taijul Islam 28 (36)
Mohammad Rizwan c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Shoriful Islam 94 (166)
Khurram Shahzad c Tanzid Hasan b Taijul Islam
All out 358 in 57.2 overs
Bowling
Taskin Ahmed 12 1 62 0
Shoriful Islam 12 4 29 1
Nahid Rana 18 3 71 2
Mehidy Hasan Miraz 20 1 62 1
Taijul Islam 34.2 4 120 6
Mominul Haque 1 0 3 0
