Bangladesh dismantle Pakistan to close in on series triumph

Kashif Abbasi Published September 3, 2024

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha reacts during the second Test against Bangladesh at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.—Tanveer Shahzad/White Star

RAWALPINDI: A historic whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh is reckoning for Pakistan. The hosts, looking to restore their pride after their maiden Test defeat against the visitors in the first fixture of the two-match series, have found themselves close to yet another blow.

Led by Shan Masood, they were brought to this point by Bangladesh pacemen Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana, who shared nine wickets between them to set their team on course for victory before rain stopped play on the fourth day of the match here at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Hasan (5-43) and Nahid (4-44) registered their career best figures in bundling Pakistan out for 172 in their second innings, giving Bangladesh a target of 185 to seal a 2-0 series win.

Openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan had helped the visitors race to 42-0, with the latter hitting two sixes and as many fours before heavy rain clouds and bad light forced the umpires to call off the day after the tea break.

When the duo come into bat on the final day, Bangladesh would be needing another 143 runs to register only their third series victory away from home — they had achieved the feat against the West Indies in 2009 and Zimbabwe in 2021.

Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie acknowledged that a Bangladesh victory couldn’t be ruled out.

“The odds are probably in favour of Bangladesh and we don’t shy away from that,” said Gillespie, who is coaching Pakistan for his first series.

“We know what can happen, but we took six for 26 in the first innings so we know that we can have an impact with the ball.”

Pakistan resumed their second innings at 9-2, following the dismissals of Abdullah Shafique and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad on the third day, the Bangladesh pacers unleashed a relentless assault on the hosts’ batting line-up.

On the fourth day, it was the southpaw opener Saim Ayub who fell first, dismissed by Taskin Ahmed with a brilliant catch by Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain at mid-off, ending a 38-run stand between Saim and skipper Shan.

Hasan and Nahid then took over, their pace and precision tearing through the Pakistan batting order. Nahid’s bouncer struck Mohammad Rizwan’s helmet, as he kept the home side’s batsmen under constant pressure.

Following Saim’s dismissal for three, Shan, who scored 28 off 34 balls with four boundaries, fell prey to Nahid’s outswinger, chasing a widish delivery, and his outside edge was neatly caught by wicket-keeper Litton Das.

Soon after, star batter Babar Azam, who had not made a significant score in his last 16 innings, failed once again. Babar, with just 11 runs from 18 balls, fell to thick edge off Nahid, making the score 65-5.

Since scoring 161 against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022, Babar’s struggles in the traditional format have been evident, with scores of 14, 24, 27, 13, 24, 39, 21, 14, 1, 41, 26, 23, 0, 22, 31, and 11. This marks 16 innings without a half-century, accumulating only 331 runs.

Following Babar’s departure, Nahid also removed Saud Shakeel, who was also caught behind.

Nahid could have had another wicket in the opening session had the slip fielder held onto an easy chance on the first delivery that Rizwan faced. Nevertheless, Rizwan, who scored 43 off 73 balls with four boundaries, shared a 55-run stand for the seventh wicket with Salman Ali Agha. This partnership was crucial as the home side had slipped from 47-2 to 81-6.

Salma, who had scored a half-century in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 47 from 71 balls, smashing six fours and a six, emerging as the top-scorer for the home side.

At lunch, Pakistan had reached 117-6, with Rizwan and Salman at the crease on 38 and seven, respectively. Hasan claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in just his third Test, adding the wickets of Rizwan, Mohammad Ali, and Mir Hamza to his earlier scalps of Abdullah and Khurram.

Nahid claimed Babar nd added the wickets of Shan, Saud and Abrar, ending with 4 for 44. Taskin Ahmed chipped in with one wicket, giving away 40 runs.

“It’s very joyful,” Hasan said of his first five-wicket haul. “We’re very happy to win the first game and now have a chance to win another one.” “We tried to bowl according to our plans and kept taking wickets,” he said.

“I am delighted that I contributed to my team’s good position.”

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 274 ((Saim Ayub 58, Shan Masood 57, Salman Ali Agha 54; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5-61, Taskin Ahmed 3-57)

BANGLADESH (1st Innings) 262 (Litton Das 138, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 78; Khurram Shahzad 6-90, Mir Hamza 2-50)

PAKISTAN (2nd Innings, overnight 9-2):

Abdullah Shafique c Litton b Hasan 3

Saim Ayub c Najmul b Taskin 20

Khurram Shahzad b Hasan 0

Shan Masood c Litton b Nahid 28

Babar Azam c Shadman b Nahid 11

Saud Shakeel c Litton b Nahid 2

Mohammad Rizwan c Litton b Hasan 43