Bangladesh secured a commanding 104-run victory over Pakistan in the opening Test match of the two-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The hosts produced an outstanding all-round performance and dominated crucial moments of the game to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Pakistan entered the final innings needing 268 runs to win. However, Bangladesh bowlers applied constant pressure and dismantled the batting lineup for just 163 runs. Fast bowler Nahid Rana emerged as the star performer with a brilliant five-wicket haul that changed the direction of the match completely.
The defeat exposed Pakistan’s batting weaknesses under pressure. Although a few batters showed resistance, the visitors failed to build strong partnerships during the chase. Bangladesh, meanwhile, displayed discipline with both bat and ball throughout the five-day contest.
The victory also marked another important milestone for Bangladesh cricket. The home side outplayed Pakistan in every department and delivered one of their most impressive Test wins in recent years.
Nahid Rana Leads Bangladesh Bowling Masterclass
Pakistan started the chase poorly after losing Imam-ul-Haq in the opening over. Taskin Ahmed struck early and gave Bangladesh immediate momentum. Imam managed only two runs before returning to the pavilion.
After the early setback, Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal tried to stabilize the innings. The pair added a valuable partnership and briefly reduced pressure on Pakistan. However, Bangladesh bowlers continued attacking aggressively.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed Azan Awais for 15 runs and opened the door for a collapse. Soon after, Nahid Rana dismissed captain Shan Masood cheaply and increased pressure on the middle order.
Abdullah Fazal played the best innings for Pakistan. The young batter scored an impressive 66 runs from 113 deliveries and struck 11 boundaries. He showed patience and confidence despite wickets falling around him.
However, Taijul Islam trapped Abdullah leg-before-wicket and ended Pakistan’s strongest partnership. In the next over, Taskin Ahmed dismissed Salman Ali Agha and pushed Pakistan deeper into trouble.
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel attempted a recovery. Nevertheless, Nahid Rana returned and removed both batters at crucial moments. Rizwan scored 15 runs, while Saud added another 15 before departing.
Pakistan completely lost control during the lower-order collapse. Nahid Rana bowled with pace and accuracy and finished with remarkable figures of 5 for 40. Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed also supported strongly with two wickets each.
Bangladesh Captain Shanto Anchors Strong Second Innings
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh declared their second innings at 240 for 9 and set Pakistan a challenging target of 268 runs. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto led from the front with a composed innings under pressure.
Shanto scored 87 runs from 150 deliveries and struck seven boundaries. Mominul Haque also contributed significantly with 56 runs. Their partnership helped Bangladesh recover after early wickets and extend the lead steadily.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added valuable middle-order runs as Bangladesh built pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers. Although wickets fell regularly later in the innings, the hosts had already placed themselves in a strong position.
Pakistan bowlers performed reasonably well during parts of the innings. Hasan Ali and Noman Ali claimed three wickets each, while Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up two important breakthroughs.
Despite those efforts, Pakistan could not stop Bangladesh from building a defendable target on a difficult batting surface.
Pakistan Miss Opportunities Throughout the Match
Bangladesh earlier posted a huge first-innings total of 413 after choosing to bat first. Mominul Haque scored 91 runs, while Shanto completed a brilliant century. Mushfiqur Rahim also added 71 valuable runs.
Pakistan bowlers struggled initially but later fought back through Mohammad Abbas, who claimed five wickets. Shaheen Afridi supported him with three wickets.
In response, Pakistan scored 386 runs and trailed by only 27 runs. Debutants Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal impressed with mature batting performances. Azan scored a century, while Abdullah contributed 60 runs.
Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha also played useful innings and kept Pakistan competitive during the first innings. However, the batting lineup failed badly in the fourth innings chase when the pressure increased.
Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding eventually proved decisive. The hosts controlled key sessions and never allowed Pakistan to dominate for long periods.
With this victory, Bangladesh now carries strong momentum into the second Test match. Pakistan, meanwhile, faces serious questions about batting consistency, leadership, and middle-order stability ahead of the next encounter.
