Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh on September 3 scripted history at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as they completed cleansweep against Pakistan in the two-Test series with a six-wicket win in the second Test. The 185-run chase is Bangladesh's third-highest successful run chase in Test cricket.
Despite getting reduced to 26/6 in the first innings, Litton Das' record-breaking 138 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz's 78-run knock helped Bangladesh make a comeback. Pacers Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana bowled out Pakistan for 172 on Day 4 and Bangladesh chased down the target of 185 without much trouble.
Pakistan pacers get early wickets
On Day 5, Bangladesh started from an overnight score of 42 for no loss after seven overs. In the sixth over of Day 5, Zakir Hasan's stay at the crease was ended by Zakir Hasan. He got knocked over by Mir Hamza. The opener scored 40 runs from 39 balls including three fours and a couple of sixes. Hamza would have gotten another but Agha Salman dropped a half chance in absence of a third slip fielder. Shadman Islam could not make the most of the second chance and was dismissed by Khurram Shahzad in the next over. He scored 24 runs from 51 balls.
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Game slips away from Pakistan’s grasp
Skipper Shanto and Mominul Haque took a cautious approach in the first session. After the end of first session, Bangladesh were 122/2 from 34 overs. They needed 63 more runs with eight wickets in hand to win the Test.
The breakthrough came in the third over of the second session. Shanto was caught by short leg fielder off Salman's bowling. The skipper scored 38 runs from 82 balls including five boundaries. Spinner Abrar Ahmed got his first wicket of the match as he removed Haque who went for a big shot. He scored 34 runs from 71 balls including four fours.
Shakib, Rahim finish it off
Haque’s wicket turned out to be a consolation as veteran batters Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim did not let Pakistan make a late comeback. In the 56th over, Shakib finished the run chase with a boundary. Shakib and Rahim remained unbeaten on 21 and 22 respectively in the historic run chase.
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