Rawalpindi: In a landmark achievement, Bangladesh secured their first Test series victory against Pakistan with a six-wicket win in the second Test at Rawalpindi. The victory completed a 2-0 series sweep and marked Bangladesh’s inaugural Test series win over a team other than Zimbabwe and West Indies. This historic win also propelled Bangladesh to the fourth position in the ICC World Test Championship standings.

According to International Cricket Council, the series, which spanned two weeks, was highlighted by Bangladesh’s consistent and dominant performances, overcoming adverse weather conditions that disrupted play. Starting the fifth day at 42/0 and needing 143 runs to win, Bangladesh approached the target methodically, losing a couple of wickets but maintaining control over the match’s outcome.

The team’s resilience was on full display despite the loss of both openers early in the day. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque then steadied the innings with a 57-run partnership. Following their dismissals, veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan formed an unbroken stand to guide Bangladesh to victory, ensuring no further losses.

Earlier in the series, Bangladesh demonstrated strong bowling performances, particularly in the first innings of the second Test, where they dismissed Pakistan for 274 runs. The bowling attack was spearheaded by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who took five wickets, and Taskin Ahmed, who claimed three scalps. The visitors also showed grit in their batting, especially when recovering from 26/6, ultimately gaining a slight lead over Pakistan.

The series win is a significant milestone for Bangladesh cricket, as acknowledged by skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who praised his team’s effort and singled out the young fast bowlers Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana for their crucial contributions in the series.