ISLAMABAD – Pakistan completed a crushing innings-and-44-run victory overBangladesh on the fourth morning on Monday, taking a 1-0 lead in thetwo-Test series.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 168 in their second innings after resumingthe day on 126-6 as Pakistan’s pace and spin attack was too hot to handledespite a flat Rawalpindi stadium pitch.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah, who at 16 years and 359 days became the youngestbowler to take a Test hat-trick on Sunday, finished with 4-26 and wasdeclared man of the match.
Despite Naseem being unavailable to bowl on Monday with rib pain, Pakistanmopped up the last four wickets in 90 minutes, inflicting their 10th defeaton Bangladesh in 11 matches with one draw.
Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali said home wins — only possible in recentmonths, after the resumption of Test cricket in Pakistan following adecade’s isolation over security concerns — were important to boostconfidence.
“It’s an important win and home wins always increase confidence within theteam,” said Azhar. “We have to play important away series including one inEngland (July-August this year) so we will carry this confidence.
“Naseem and other bowlers bowled superbly and it was an outstanding battingdisplay, so all in all it was a complete team effort.”
Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque started the day by square-driving pacemanShaheen Shah Afridi for his fifth boundary in the first over, but then fellleg-before in the same over for 41.
Liton Das (29) and tail-ender Rubel Hossain kept Pakistan at bay for 11.5overs before Mohammad Abbas trapped Rubel leg-before for five.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Das lbw and had Abu Jayed for three tofinish with 4-58 and complete the win.
– ‘Disappointing batting’ –
Haque rued Bangladesh’s low first-innings total.
“Disappointing batting on a flat wicket (in the first innings) and no teamcan come back from such situations,” said Haque, who has now lost all threeTests as skipper by an innings.
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“Pakistan bowled superbly and exploited our weaknesses and that hat-trickchanged the game completely to open Pakistan’s victory path.”
With the victory, Pakistan gained 60 points in the World Test Championship,taking their tally to 140 points.
India lead the nine-team championship table with 360 points followed byAustralia (246) and England 146.
Top two teams on the championship table will play the final at Lord’s inJune 2021.
Pakistan’s victory was on the cards after they bowled Bangladesh out for233 in the first innings and then piled up 445 in reply, with Babar Azamsmashing 143 and Shan Masood 100.
This becomes Bangladesh’s sixth defeat in 14 months, including their fifthby an innings. They have yet to score a championship point in three Tests.
The second Test starts in Karachi — after a two-month break — from April5-9.
Bangladesh, who played a three-match Twenty20 series with Pakistan lastmonth, insisted on splitting their tour into three phases over securityconcerns.
They will also play a one-day international in Karachi (April 3) before thesecond Test.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi snared Mominul Haque in the first over onday four. -APP/AFP
