Bangladesh fought to regain control of the first cricket test against Pakistan in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Sunday, with national player Mehidy Hasan claiming five wickets. This assertive performance on home soil allowed Bangladesh to dismiss Pakistan for 386, securing a 27-run first-innings lead. The home side then moved to 7 for no loss, extending its overall lead to 34 runs before bad light forced an early close of play, underscoring a determined effort to establish dominance in the contest on their own turf.
Pakistan’s opener Azan Awais, a debutant, scored 103 runs, leading the foreign team’s batting effort. Three other Pakistani batters — debutant Abdullah Fazal, Salman Agha, and Mohammad Rizwan — also contributed half-centuries, challenging the home team’s control. However, Mehidy Hasan’s bowling ensured that Bangladesh ultimately secured the crucial first-innings lead, preventing the foreign side from establishing an early advantage.
National Assertion on Home Ground
Mehidy Hasan, a key national player, finished with figures of 5-102, a performance vital to Bangladesh’s ability to dismiss the visiting Pakistan team. His efforts were instrumental in limiting Pakistan’s total and allowing Bangladesh to take the lead. Mehidy commented on the state of the match, stating, “I think the match is evenly poised. You can never say what score is safe here, but I believe 290 to 300 runs can be a good score on this wicket because batting will be very difficult on the fourth and fifth days.” This assessment highlights the strategic struggle for control on the national pitch.
Pakistan had appeared poised for a substantial first-innings total, resuming the day at 179-1. Awais began fluently, hitting two fours in the first four overs to reach 99. He then nudged Nahid Rana to point for a single, achieving his century off 153 balls. This made him the 15th Pakistan batter to hit a ton on debut, representing a significant individual achievement for the foreign side. However, his brilliant knock was brought to an end when Taskin (2-70) dismissed him, securing his 50th test wicket and marking a milestone for a Bangladeshi pacer.
The Struggle for Dominance
Taskin’s dismissal of Awais was followed by the removal of captain Shan Masood, triggering a “mini collapse” for the visiting Pakistan team, which lost three wickets for only four runs. Mehidy Hasan then struck twice, including the wicket of another debutant, Abdullah Fazal, who had made 60 runs. These crucial wickets left Pakistan at 230-5, significantly undermining their efforts to build a commanding total on foreign soil.
Despite these setbacks, Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan mounted a strong recovery for Pakistan with a 119-run partnership. This collaboration frustrated Bangladesh’s bowlers and momentarily revived Pakistan’s hopes of challenging the home team’s growing advantage. However, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam broke through, dismissing Rizwan for 59 runs, a critical moment in reasserting Bangladesh’s control. Shortly after Rizwan’s dismissal, rain arrived, causing a two-hour delay in the national contest.
Consolidating the Home Advantage
Upon the resumption of play, fast bowler Nahid Rana struck immediately, getting the better of Salman for his only wicket in the innings. Salman’s dismissal effectively ended Pakistan’s hopes of taking an innings lead, solidifying Bangladesh’s advantage. Mehidy Hasan then completed his 14th five-for by sending back Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi in consecutive overs, further dismantling the foreign batting line-up. Taijul Islam (2-46) subsequently wrapped up Pakistan’s innings, ensuring Bangladesh maintained its lead.
At the close of play, Mahmudul Hasan was on 2, while Shadman Islam was yet to score for Bangladesh. Earlier in the match, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto had struck a sublime century, a 130-ball 101, and Mominul Haque made 91. These performances were instrumental in lifting Bangladesh to a first-innings total of 413 all out, establishing their initial dominance on home turf and setting the stage for the ongoing struggle for national pride in the test match.