Pakistan came roaring back into the first Test against Bangladesh and won by 8 wickets despite conceding what many felt was a crucial 44-run lead in the first innings. Bundled out for a score of 286 in response to hosts’ 330, Pakistan dismissed Bangladesh for just 157 and chased down the 202-run target in just over 50 overs.
Dominating the scene in the fourth-innings, the visitors had openers Abid Ali (91) and Abdullah Shafique (73) batting stupendously for their first-wicket stand of 151 runs. In a chase of 202, that partnership made it a no-contest for the Pakistan side, which lost only one further wicket before coasting home.
Abid missed out on what would’ve been a pretty satisfying second hundred of the Test for him, coming in the final innings of the Test on a dryish surface at Chattogram. His innings and stand with Shafique allowed Pakistan to eat up a significant portion of the target before losing their first wicket and laid the foundation to their unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
After Abid and Shafique departed, experienced No.3 Azhar Ali (24*) and skipper Babar Azam (13*) batted watchfully to take Pakistan to the winning post.
But it was the bowlers who really shifted the momentum for Pakistan with their great work the previous afternoon when they didn’t allow Bangladesh to stretch their lead to threatening proportions. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi led the way with a magnificent five-fer (5/32) in unhelpful conditions.
Shaheen, who has been in spectacular form and rhythm this year, has taken 44 wickets from his eight Tests since January at an average of just 17.45. He is leading the wickets chart for Pakistan in Tests in 2021.
Afridi was ably supported by his pace partner Hasan Ali (2/32), who is only second to him in terms of wickets in Tests this year (39 wickets at 15.94), and off-spinner Sajid Khan, who bagged a three-fer (3/33) for the innings.
When Bangladesh needed their batters to take the game away from Pakistan, hardly any of them rose to the occasion. First-innings’ centurion Liton Das top-scored in the second innings with a knock of 59, but Yasir Ali (36) was the only other Bangladeshi player to make a score of 30 or more.
Alhamdulillah! It’s always great to start a series off on a winning note. Well played team, especially @AbidAli_Real @imabd28 @RealHa55an and @iShaheenAfridi. Eyes on the next one now✌🏼#BANvPAK pic.twitter.com/0V6BP4Ot8y
— Fawad Alam (@iamfawadalam25) November 30, 2021
Bangladesh would be in pain for having missed out on a great opportunity to put Pakistan under pressure and potentially secure their first-ever Test victory against them.
Brief scores
Bangladesh 330 (Das 114, Rahim 91; Ali 5/51) & 157 (Das 59; Afridi 5/32, Khan 3/33) lost to Pakistan 286 (Ali 133, Shafique 52; Islam 7/116) & 203/2 (Ali 91, Shafique 73; Hasan 1/59) by 8 wickets
