After making only 87 in the first innings, Bangladesh were forced to follow on before being bowled out for 205.
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Offspinner Sajid Khan produced a man-of-the-match display, picking up 12 wickets to help Pakistan register an innings and eight-run victory over Bangladesh in the rain-hit second and final test on Wednesday. After making only 87 in the first innings, Bangladesh were forced to follow on before being bowled out for 205. A lot of action of the final Test was washed away due to rain and it made the possibility of getting a result on the final day near impossible. But a spirited display by the visiting team’s bowlers led by Sajid helped them pick up a staggering 13 wickets on Day 5. With the light gradually fading, Bangladesh’s last-wicket pair of Taijul Islam and Ebadot Hossain resisted for 34 balls. The unlikely partnership raised hope of salvaging the last Test. But Sajid brought an end to the partnership, dismissing Taijul leg-before to help Pakistan win the game.
Sajid Khan was undoubtedly the star of the day after picking up 4-86 in the second innings to follow up his first innings’ tally of 8-42. But, he came to life only in the last two days of play, as the rain played spoilsport in the opening three days. Leading 1-0 in the series, Pakistan declared its first innings at 300-4 after only 63.2 overs were possible in the first three days due to rain and bad light. Notably, the entire third day was washed out and only 6.2 overs were possible on Day 2. Pakistan had reduced Bangladesh to 76-7 at the end of Day 4.
Fourth in an illustrious list! ? pic.twitter.com/pEm9xujJcb
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A result seemed unlikely in the final day’s play but Babar Azam’s boys produced a spirited showing on Wednesday to put them in the driver’s seat. Sajid Khan picked two of the remaining three wickets, including the prized one of Shakib Al Hasan. Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up the other wicket to bundle out the hosts for just 87, as Azam forced the follow-on.
Pakistan bowlers started the second innings the way they finished their first, picking up early wickets. Pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-31) and Hasan Ali (2-37) were unplayable with the new ball, as Bangladesh found themselves in a spot of bother, reeling at 25-4.
The home side showed a bit of resistance when Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das combined for 73 runs in 25 overs. It gave them a renewed sense of hope for getting a draw, but Sajid Khan had other ideas, dismissing Liton for 45. Then Shakib Al Hasan joined Mushfiqur Rahim, as the duo added 49 runs. However, Mushfiqur was run out for 48 while attempting a risky single.
The ICC World Test Championship standings after Pakistan’s emphatic win in the Dhaka Test ?#WTC23 | #BANvPAK pic.twitter.com/Xo2k02pnPE
— ICC (@ICC) December 8, 2021
Bangladesh’s hope of getting a draw rested on Shakib and Mehidy Hasan, as the duo frustrated the Pakistani bowling attack. As a result, skipper Babar came to bowl and his decision paid off, as he got the breakthrough with his offspin when Mehidy was trapped leg-before while attempting a sweep.
Then Sajid Khan got the big breakthrough by breaking the stumps of Shakib, who was the home side’s top scorer in the second innings with 63. From there, Babar Azam’s side had little trouble in getting rid of the tail end.
