A defiant rear-guard action proved too late for Bangladesh as Pakistan registered a sensational innings and 8 runs win in the second Test on the final day of the tour. The win in Dhaka helped Pakistan clean sweep the two-match Test series 2-0 and pocket 24 crucial ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 points [check latest standings HERE]. Pakistan had won the first Test in Chattogram by eight wickets. Pakistan had also the preceding T20I series 3--0.
After three days of virtually no play in Dhaka, Pakistan took a 213-run lead, thanks to Sajid Khan's eight-wicket haul. Forced to follow on, Bangladesh endured yet another top-order collapse. And the hosts were 98/5 in the 34th over, but Mushfiqur Rahim (48 off 136), Liton Das (45 off 81) and Shakib Al Hasan (64 off 130) played defiant knocks against the visitors. For a while, the hosts looked set to bat out the final day with Shakib guiding a very enterprising Mehidy Hasan in a 51-run stand for the seventh wicket. But Babar Azam pulled off a trick by introducing himself into the attack. The visiting captain trapped Mehidy in front for his maiden Test wicket to effectively end the defiance. Then, offie Sajid Khan cleaned up the tail. Catch Day 5 highlights and full scores of BAN vs PAK, 2nd Test here:
4:55 PM IST: Sajid Khan, who took a dozen wickets in this match, is Player of the Match. He thanks the Pakistan team management for trusting him. "We played for a win and bowling to one spot was important. All credit to the team," says Sajid Khan. He will try and take a piece of Dhaka everywhere now! But really well bowled! Opener Abid Ali is the Player of the series for giving Pakistan great starts in both Tests.
4:51 PM IST: This has been a fantastic win for Pakistan. Babar Azam's wicket was a gamechanger. Bangladesh will have to do a lot of soul searching after suffering a series of batting collapses. They will be touring New Zealand and in seaming conditions and without a Shakib Al Hasan, they could be all at sea Down Under.
4:30 PM IST: It's All Over, PAK Win
Bangladesh tail has refused to wag and Pakistan win the rain-hit Dhaka Test by eight runs. Some fine rearguard batting by Shakib Al Hasan (63) and Mushfiqur Rahim (48) did not help as Pakistan off-spinner Sajid Khan was simply exceptional with his line and length. In the fitness of things, Sajid Khan (4/86) takes the final wicket. Taijul Islam is LBW for 5. BAN all out for 205. Pakistan win series 2-0. Sajid finished with a match haul of 12 for 128 and certainly Outlook's Man of the Match!
4:09 PM IST: Bangladesh lose their ninth wicket, Sajid Khan gets his 11th. Khaled Ahmed is out for no score. Bangladesh 204 for nine, trail by nine runs.
4:00 PM IST: Double Blow And Death?
Shakib Al Hasan exits too for 63. He is bowled by Sajid Khan, who takes his 10th wicket of the match. BAN suddenly collapse to 200 for 8 and it is not looking good at all for the home team. Thirteen overs remain to be played and Pakistan eye the kill.
3:56 PM IST: Can you believe it, Babar Azam has struck with his second ball in his first over of the innings. This is Babar Azam's first international wicket and has come at a great time. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is LBW for 14 (after PAK reviewed). BAN are 198/7.
3:52 PM IST: The last 10 overs have produced 11 runs! Bangladesh are 198 for six wickets after 75 overs. The last hour's play has started. Effectively, 15 mandatory overs remain. But the light has to be good enough. Pakistan are using their slow bowlers to push through their overs. Shakib and Mehidy are applying themselves well.
3:33 PM IST: 20 overs still remain in the day, light permitting of course. A lot can change in this match as Pakistan are rotating their bowlers to break the Shakib-Mehidy Hasan Miraz partnership, worth 48 runs now. Runs really don't matter. Bangladesh batsmen have to just stay on and force a draw. 195 for six after 70 overs.
3:22 PM IST: Every run, every minute count for Bangladesh now. BAN are 191/6 at the end of 67th over. Shakib Al Hasan is batting on 57. He is finally justifying his selection but still he has to show some more determination. BAN trail by 22 runs.
3:05 PM IST: Shakib Fifty
26th Test fifty for Shakib Al Hasan (50 off 89). The star all-rounder has added 31 runs for the seven with Mehidy Hasan (5 off 26). Bangladesh trail by 35 runs. BAN - 178/6 (62)
2:28 PM IST: Players Are Back
Nauman Ali to resume the post-tea session. New man Mehidy Hasan to take the strike.
2:09 PM IST: Tea
Mushfiqur Rahim (48 off 136) run out ends a 49-run stand with Shakib Al Hasan. The third umpire takes some time to come to the decision. Shakib Al Hasan plays the first ball of the 53rd over to mid-wicket and Rahim is caught short, by a whisker. His bat bouncing as while taking the dive. And that's tea. Bangladesh trail by 66 runs. BAN - 147/6 (52.1)
1:58 PM IST: Bangladesh Fight
Sajid Khan operating in tandem with Nauman Ali. runs from Sajid's 16th over. 38 overs left in the day's play. Bangladesh still trail by 69 runs. BAN - 144/5 (50)
1:38 PM IST: Rahim-Shakib Stand
Nauman Ali with his ninth over. A single off the fifth ball. An unbeaten 33-run stand in 71 balls for Mushfiqur Rahim (39 off 111) and Shakib Al Hasan (18 off 38). 30 runs in the last 60 balls. Bangladesh still trail by 82 runs. BAN - 132/5 (45)
1:14 PM IST: Drinks
Sajid Khan on with his tenth over. Seven from it, including a four off the final ball, hit by Mushfiqur Rahim. Bangladesh trail by 104 runs. BAN - 109/5 (38)
12:56 PM IST: Five Down
Sajid Khan gets his first wicket in the innings. Breaks a defiant 73-run stand. Liton Das (45 off 81), caught by Fawad Alam at square leg. Shakib Al Hasan is the man, and he joins Mushfiqur Rahim in the middle. BAN - 98/5 (33.1)
12:11 PM IST: Post-lunch Session Starts
Players are ready for the post-lunch session. Sajid Khan to Liton Das. Following on, Bangladesh still need another 141 runs to avoid an innings defeat. BAN - 72/4 (23) & 87; PAK - 300/4d.
11:32 AM IST: Lunch
Nauman Ali with the final over before lunch on the final day of the tour. Seven from the over, including four byes off the second ball. Mushfiqur Rahim (16 off 52) and Liton Das (27 off 46) add crucial 47 runs in 89 balls for the fifth wicket as Bangladesh fight to save the Test. Bangladesh still trail by 141 runs. BAN - 72/4 (23)
11:21 AM IST: Sajid On
Sajid Khan gets his first over in the innings. 12 from the over as Liton Das hits the fourth and fifth balls for fours. Interesting. Das was caught and bowled by Sajid for 6 in the first innings. Bangladesh trail by 160 runs. BAN - 53/4 (20)
10:38 AM IST: Drinks
Nauman Ali gets his first over. A single. Bangladesh trail by 186 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das are on 2 and 0 respectively, having survived 17 balls together. BAN - 27/4 (11)
10:24 AM IST: Four Down
This is another collapse. Najmul Hossain Shanto is gone, caught by Fawad Alam. Second for Shaheen Afridi. Liton Das is the new man. BAN - 25/4 (8.1).
10:12 AM IST: Three Down
Hasan Ali gets his second. Mominul Haque LBW, goes for 7 off 8. Mushfiqur Rahim is the new man. Bangladesh trail by 191 runs. BAN 19/3 (6)
10:01 AM IST: Two Down
Shaheen Afridi gets his first. Traps Shadman Islam in front for 2 off 15. Captain Mominul Haque joins Najmul Hossain Shanto in the middle. BAN - 13/2 (4.1)
9:55 AM IST: Countdown Begins
Hasan Ali gets the first wicket. Cleans up Mahmudul Hasan Joy for 6 off 6. Najmul Hossain Shanto is the new man. Bangladesh trail by 201 runs. BAN - 12/1 (3.2)
9:44 AM IST: Bangladesh 2nd Innings
Shaheen Afridi with the new ball. Shadman Islam takes the strike. Mahmudul Hasan Joy is his opening partner. 89 overs left in the day's play. Bangladesh need 214 to make Pakistan bat again, and one less than that to avoid defeat.
9:29 AM IST: Pakistan Enforce Follow-on
Sensational stuff! Sajid Khan gets another. This time the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan. Caught by Azhar Ali at short cover. Bangladesh all-rounder goes for 33 off 54. And that's all for the hosts. They concede a 213-run lead. Well, Sajid Khan's figures: 8/42 in 15 overs with four maiden overs. 15 runs and three wickets in the last 60 balls. BAN - 87 all out in 32 overs.
And as expected, Pakistan enforce the follow-on. Bangladesh just missed the safe zone by 25 runs.
9:14 AM IST: Nine Down
Well, Bangladesh are in a hurry! Lose their ninth wicket. Shaheen Afridi cleans up Khaled Ahmed for a two-ball duck. 12 runs and four wickets in the last 60 balls. Ebadot Hossain is the last man. Shakib Al Hasan is unbeaten on 23 off 39. Bangladesh trail by 223 runs. BAN - 77/9 (28.3)
9:07 AM IST: Eight Down
Sajid Khan with the second over of the day. And he strikes. Seven in the innings. Taijul Islam is trapped in front. Goes for a 16-ball duck. Shaheen Afridi started the day with a maiden to Shakib Al Hasan. Khaled Ahmed is the new man. Bangladesh trail by 224 runs. BAN - 76/8 (28)
Day 5 Preview
Sajid Khan dramatically turned the Dhaka Test Pakistan's way on Tuesday. The off-spinner took his maiden five-wicket haul as Pakistan attacked with their slow bowlers after the umpires deemed that pacers would be dangerous in murky conditions.
Fortunately, the Rain Gods relented on Tuesday. Play started around lunch time and Pakistan, keen to force a win, tried to score briskly. Despite losing their overnight batsmen Azhar Ali and Babar Azam, a 107-run fifth wicket stand between Mohammad Rizwan (53 not out) and Fawad Alam (50) helped Pakistan declare at 300 for 4.
Under overcast conditions, Bangladesh's best option would have been to bat well and take the match towards its logical conclusion, a draw. But Sajid Khan left the home team all at sea with a career-best 6 for 35. Most Bangladesh batsmen played poor strokes.
Bangladesh trail by 224 runs and still need another 25 runs to avoid the follow-on. Former skipper Shakib Al Hasan was the only man who held on to his wicket. At close, he was undefeated on 23 and will hope that the tailenders will help him avoid the follow-on and then battle for a draw.
