Babar Azam On The Incredible Win In Dhaka Test And His First Test wicket | PCB | MA2T

Though their opponents are not the best outfit in the world in red ball cricket, Babar Azam led Pakistan to a remarkable Test win at Mirpur, Dhaka.

Match Summary

Bangladesh vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Pakistan tour of Bangladesh

Bangladesh 87/10 (32 ov) & 205/10 (84.4 ov)

Pakistan 300/4d (98.3 ov)

Result - Pakistan won by an inning and 8 runs.

Scorecard

Given that Pakistan’s first innings had stretched to the middle session of the fourth day, there was just not enough time left to produce result. It was the captain’s proactive and bold take that saw an innings and 8 runs defeat to the demoralised Bangladesh – bowled out for 87 and 205, within 24 hours. Off-spinner Sajid Khan with a match haul of 12-128, was the wrecker-in-chief for Pakistan.

Earlier, Pakistan managed to achieve their first objective to bowl out Bangladesh before the follow-on mark, on the final day of the Test match in Mirpur, Dhaka. To collapse in such fashion and in be bowled out in 32 overs for 87 in home conditions is set to create panic and heated debate amongst the management. Bangladesh resuming on overnight 76-7, could only add another 11 runs to be all out for 87 in just 32 overs. Sajid ended with a career-best return of 8-42, after dismissing top-scorer Shakib Al Hasan (33), the last man to depart.

After such a dismal start to the final day, Bangladesh were asked to follow-on, the pressure of which was simply too much for their inexperienced batting line-up. In no time the top four batsmen were back in pavilion, all dismissed for single figures with the scoreboard showing a dismal 25-4 in the 9th over. Both Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali with two wickets apiece had galvanised the tourists to go on an all out attack. Mushfiqur Rahim got his head down and negotiated the shine on the ball and in company with Liton Das (45) added 73 for the 5th wicket but more importantly took out 25.2 overs out of the game. Sajid broke the stand by sending back Das but the run out of Mushfiqur, two runs short of his fifty, on the stroke of tea break, was ever so crucial.

Pakistan needed four wickets in the final session, mindful of the fact that all-rounder Shakib would stand between them and the victory. Surrounded by 5-6 close-in fielders Shakib was up for the challenge in defending resolutely but not missing any scoring opportunity. The left-handed, having established world-class status through consistency with both bat and ball in all three international formats, is a respected opponent. During his spirited 63, he joined an exclusive batch of all-rounders – Garry Sobers, Ina Botham, Kapil Dev, Daniel Vettori and Jacques Kallis – who have scored 4000 runs besides 200 wickets in Test matches. A great achievement by any yardstick.

Babar Azam on the incredible win in Dhaka Test and his first Test wicket#BANvPAK #HarHaalMainCricket pic.twitter.com/2cGayPJIcK

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 8, 2021

In Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib found an ally who was determined to deny Pakistan an unlikely win. The pair added 51 runs and stood up to the opposition for 23.1 overs before Babar dismissed Mehidy – his first ever international wicket. Shakib was the out for 63, bowled by Sajid and the bowler will add another two wickets to his tally and Pakistan were home. With bad light having influenced the game so much, the tourists could have easily been frustrated today in their pursuit of a Test win. On a surface that assisted spin bowler, Nauman Ali bowled well and kept the pressure but went wicket-less in the 32 overs he bowled in the match, in sharp contrast to Sajid, who was a straight forward choice for Player of the Match.

Playing XIs

Bangladesh - Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Nurul Hasan

Pakistan - Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Sajid Khan

Match Details

Start Time: 04:00

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat

Venue: Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur

Officials: Michael Gough, Sharfuddoula Saikat, Gazi Sohel, Masudur Mukul, Neeyamur Rahul

© Cricket World 2021