Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 8 wickets in the morning session of the first Test at Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Tuesday (November 30). Bangladesh showed a true fighting spirit in this encounter despite missing a number of important players. The Bangladesh Men’s National Cricket Team’s performance in this match was by far the best since they resumed international cricket in January of this year. Let’s look at some of the key points for Bangladesh from the first match of the BAN vs PAK Test series 2021.
First Match Report: BAN vs PAK Test Series 2021
Bangladesh scored 330 runs in their first innings after batting first. Liton Das made the highest 114, followed by Mushfiqur Rahim with 91. Bangladesh set up a respectable total in the first innings thanks to a 206-run stand between Liton and Mushfiqur in the fifth wicket. Pakistan’s right-arm bowler Hasan Ali took the highest five wickets.
In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 286 runs, falling 44 runs short of Bangladesh’s first innings total. Pakistan openers, Abid Ali (133) and Abdullah Shafique (52) put on a 146-run first-wicket stand, laying the foundation for the innings. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took the most wickets in the innings with seven.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 157 runs in their second innings after taking a 44-run lead. Liton Das scored the most runs with 59, while Pakistan bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi took the most wickets with 5. Pakistan achieved the 202-run total with the loss of two wickets in the first session of day 5. Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique made a strong opening stand once again. Pakistan’s triumph was made easier by their 151-run partnership. Abid Ali was named player of the match for his contributions with the bat in this match.
Key Takeaways for Bangladesh in the BAN vs PAK 1st Test
A few players of Bangladesh performed really well in this encounter. Their efforts helped the host to put up a strong fight against Pakistan in the first Test of the series. The following are the important takeaways from the encounter for Bangladesh.
Liton and Mushfiqur reclaim their batting form
Prior to this match, Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim had a dismal run of form on the international stage. They were even dropped for the T20I series against Pakistan after a poor showing at the T20 World Cup 2021. However, the selectors have put their faith in both senior players for the Test series, and they have rewarded their faith by playing two responsible knocks in the first innings. Their 200-run partnership helped Bangladesh to a lead over Pakistan in the first innings. Liton scored his first century in Test cricket, while Mushfiqur Rahim amassed more than 90 runs. Liton played another solid knock in the second innings. Bangladesh will play two Test matches against New Zealand following this series, thus both players have regained their form at the right moment.
Excellent spin bowling of Taijul Islam
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has evolved into a major transformation for Bangladesh over the years. His ability to take wickets, particularly at home, has been outstanding. Pakistan’s biggest concern was Taijul Islam in the first Test. Therefore, he bowled over 40% of Bangladesh’s overs in the first innings, picking up 7 wickets. Shakib Al Hasan is expected to play in the second Test, and if he does, Bangladesh’s spin attack will be even more potent.
Taking the game till the fifth day
Bangladesh rarely play until the fifth day of a Test match against tougher opponents. They generally lose Test matches on the third or fourth day of the contest. However, Bangladesh managed to complete 13 of the 15 sessions in the first match against Pakistan. This means Bangladesh made it to the fifth day of the game, which is a major accomplishment. Bangladesh will regularly create opportunities to win matches in the near future if they can carry the game till the fifth day. Bangladesh have a better record at the SBNCS, Mirpur in comparison to other domestic grounds. So, they can beat Pakistan in the second Test if they play to their best ability.
Way Forward
Bangladesh fought hard as a team and made it to the fifth day of the match. The players’ performances in the first match of the BAN vs PAK Test series 2021 were promising enough. They can put up an even better display in the second match, which begins on December 4. More significantly, Shakib Al Hasan is expected to play in the second Test match of this series. So, Bangladesh have a decent chance of upsetting the visiting Pakistan team in the tour’s last match if they play as a unit.
Source: United News of Bangladesh