Bangladesh script history with momentous Test victory over Pakistan

Digital Desk: Bangladesh has made cricket history by securing its first-ever Test victory against Pakistan, winning by 10 wickets in the opening match of their series. This landmark achievement marks a significant milestone for the Tigers, who had previously faced Pakistan 14 times, suffering 12 defeats and managing just one draw.

This historic win not only cements Bangladesh’s place in cricket history but also propels them to a prominent position in the ICC World Test Championship standings. With this victory, Bangladesh has leapfrogged both Pakistan and South Africa, moving into sixth place with a point percentage of 40%, tied with Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Pakistan has dropped to eighth place with a point percentage of 30.56%.

The match, which began with a damp start due to a wet outfield, quickly turned into an exhilarating contest. Despite only managing 41 overs on the first day, Bangladesh made a strong impact by taking four crucial wickets. On Day 2, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel delivered remarkable performances, each scoring a century to rescue their team. Rizwan, in particular, played a gritty innings, remaining unbeaten at 171 as Pakistan declared their innings at 448/6.

In response, Bangladesh saw standout performances from Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored a magnificent 191, and Shadman Islam, who made 93, pushing Pakistan to the limit on Day 4. Despite coming close to personal milestones, both players ultimately fell short.

On Day 5, Pakistan began with a narrow lead but collapsed to just 146 runs, with Rizwan providing the lone resistance with a valiant half-century. Bangladesh's spinners were exceptional, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz claiming four wickets and Shakib Al Hasan adding three more. 

Needing just 30 runs for a historic win, Bangladesh achieved the target in under seven overs without losing a wicket, sealing a momentous victory and setting a new benchmark for their cricketing achievements.