DHAKA: With only 67 overs of play possible on the first three days, there was only one outcome possible – a draw. At least that’s what many would have predicted. However, when you are up against Pakistan, you can always expect a lot of drama.
And drama it was. In the dying light on Day 5, they did not only beat Bangladesh to clean sweep them, they snatched away the crucial 12 World Test Championship points that looked like a distant dream at one stage. Mind you, Pakistan were far away from completing their first innings when the day’s play began on Day 4.
Not only did they add another 112 runs to their overnight total but also dismissed seven of the Bangladeshi batters to give themselves an outside chance, heading into the fifth day. As the play began on Day 5, Pakistan looked like the only side that was playing to win.
They did not only quickly dismiss the rest of the Bangladeshi batters but also enforced the follow-on. For Pakistan to win the game, the picture was pretty clear. They had to dismiss 13 Bangladeshi wickets to win the game. And that they did. Even though, Bangladesh put on a better fight in the second innings, Pakistan kept attacking until the Bangladeshi batters resisted no more.
For Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz put on some fight. When, at one stage, nothing worked for Pakistan and it looked as if Bangladesh would save the Test, Pakistan captain Babar Azam brought himself into the attack and quickly dismissed the Miraz to break the partnership between him and Shakib.
For Pakistan, the off-break bowler Sajid Khan was their star who picked up eight wickets in the first innings, followed by four in the second. He was also fitting declared the Player of the Match. Pakistan’s opening batter Abid Ali, meanwhile, was declared the Player of the Series.