Bangladesh completed a landmark Test series victory against
Pakistan by notching up a six-wicket win in the series deciding second Test at
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The victory also saw Bangladesh sweep two-match Test series
against the hosts after a 10-wicket win in the first Test. Pakistan were the
third Test nation against whom the Tigers registered a series victory, other
than Zimbabwe and West Indies. But both of the teams were significantly weaker
and depleted at the time of losing the series against Bangladesh. While
Bangladesh secured maiden win against Pakistan in the first match, the second
Test victory would definitely go down as the most decorated win in the annals
of the cricketing history. Bangladesh were staring at a defeat when they were
reduced to 26-6 in the first innings, but with unwavering resolve, they
weathered all adversities, caused by nature or Pakistani bowlers and turned the
tide impeccably to come up as winner at the end. The victory looked imminent
when they were set just 185 for a series clinching victory. They completed the
inevitable, one hour after the lunch, reaching the target by losing six
wickets. Fittingly senior duo Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan were in the
crease to seal the deal with the latter slashing Abrar Ahmed for a boundary to
bring the victory. Mushfiqur Rahim, the hero of the first Test was on 22 with
Shakib on 21.
Resuming the Day 5 on 42 for no loss, Bangladesh lost the
opener Zakir Hasan when pacer Mir Hamza moved one nicely to rattle his stump.
Zakir added 9 runs to his overnight total to be out on 40 off 39 after hitting
three fours and two sixes. Shadman was reprieved on 17 but couldn't make the
life count and departed after chipping to Shan Masood off Khurram Shahzad for
24 to give Pakistan a glimmer of hope. But that was shattered by captain Najmul
Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque, who showed a great composure in resisting the
nerve-wrecking moment as the history on the cards.
