Bangladesh eye first-ever Test series win over Pakistan

Visitors are chasing Pakistan’s 185-run target in second innings of final Test in two-match series

RAWALPINDI: Bangladesh on Tuesday are looking to secure their first-ever Test series triumph over Pakistan by winning the second match against Pakistan being played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The visitors continued their innings from 42-0 on the fifth and the last day today after the rain ended the play early on Monday during the visitors chase of Pakistan’s 185-run target.

With opener and Shadman Islam (16*) and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (0*) on the crease — after Zakir Hasan (40) fell to Mir Hamza — the score is at 58-1 with Bangladesh needing 127 to win the second Test and secure a historic series win as they won the first match by 10 wickets — their first-ever Test win against Pakistan.

A day earlier, the visitors bowled out Pakistan for 172 after pacers Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana wreaked havoc, picking five and four wickets, respectively.

The hosts started the day on 9/2 and had a decent start courtesy of Saim Ayub and skipper Shan Masood, adding 38 runs.

Ayub was the first man to depart as Taskin Ahmed took his wicket. He made 20 runs off 35 balls.

Rizwan made 43 runs off 73 balls which included five fours. Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed departed after facing 12 balls for his two.

Mahmud dismissed Mir Hamza (4) to wrap up Pakistan’s innings on 172.

Salman added vital runs for Pakistan and remained unbeaten on 47.

Mahmud registered his first fifer in Test cricket, becoming the first Bangladesh pacer to take this many wickets in an innings in Pakistan.

Before that, Responding to Pakistan’s first innings 274, Bangladesh were reduced to 26-6 and in danger of following on amid fiery fast bowling in the morning but Litton Das hit a defiant 138 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 78 runs as the tourists recovered from a precarious position to post 262 all out after Shahzad bagged six wickets on the third day of the second test.