Bangladesh failed to pull off any miracle on day five as Pakistan comfortably chased down a 202-run target to thrash the host by eight wickets in the first cricket Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury the stadium here today.
Pakistan’s victory looked all but sure when they ended the fourth day on 109 for no loss, leaving them needing just 93 runs to seal the deal on day five. They took just two hours to race to the victory on day five to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo hoped against the hopes, relying on the popular saying, “anything is possible in Test cricket.”
However, that was not to be as Pakistan players played risk-free cricket to deny Bangladesh any chance to hit back.
Opener Abid Ali missed out a back-to-back century by nine runs and that was only scar Bangladesh could do for Pakistan.
Abid Ali and debutant Abdullah Shafique put on a 151-run partnership for the opening stand, their second consecutive 100-plus stand in the match to edge Pakistan closer to victory.
Abid who hit 133 in the first innings, struck 12 boundaries for his 91 off 148 in this innings.
Shafique followed his 52 with 73 off 129, studded by eight fours and one six, before offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz had him dismissed lbw to give Bangladesh a breakthrough on the fifty days.
Resuming the fifth day, Pakistan openers appeared to be in full control until Miraz struck but the breakthrough came in late when a Pakistan win was a only possible result.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam also had Abid Ali out via leg-before, baffling him with a sharp turn. Desperate Abid Ali who was playing down the wrong line reviewed the decision in vain.
Azhar Ali and captain Babar Azam then completed the inevitable with the former hitting consecutive boundaries off Miraz to sign off the game.
Azhar was unbeaten on 24 and Azam was on 13.
Thanks to a maiden century from Liton Das, Bangladesh racked up 330 in its first innings. Taijul Islam claimed 7-116 as Pakistan was bowled out for 286 to hand Bangladesh a 44-run lead.
But fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi returned figures of 5-32 to wrap up Bangladesh’s second innings for 157, which set a 202-run target for the visitors.
The second Test is in Dhaka from December 4-8.
