RAWALPINDI: Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim delivered a remarkable innings of 191 on Saturday, propelling Bangladesh to a record total and giving them a strong chance of securing their first-ever Test victory against Pakistan at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Rahim’s outstanding performance, which set multiple records, helped Bangladesh amass a formidable 565 all out in their first innings, taking a vital 117-run lead over Pakistan, who had declared their first innings at 448-6.
Bangladesh’s previous highest Test score against Pakistan was 555-6, achieved in Khulna in 2015. At the end of the fourth day, Pakistan’s second innings was 23 for one, trailing by 94 runs, with Abdullah Shafique (12) and Shan Masood (9) at the crease. Saim Ayub was dismissed cheaply for one, caught by wicket-keeper Litton Das off a delivery from fast bowler Shoriful Islam.
With Bangladesh having lost 12 of their 13 Tests against Pakistan, their hope now rests on their spinners extracting some turn from a pitch that has offered little assistance so far.
Starting his innings at number five on Friday, Mushfiqur resumed on 55 as Bangladesh began the day at 316 for five. On a sweltering day, he showcased controlled aggression and solid defense, facing 341 balls during his marathon innings. Mushfiqur’s knock included 22 fours and one six, and he broke the previous record for the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi batter in Pakistan, set by Javed Omar with 119 in Peshawar in 2003.
Mushfiqur enjoyed some fortune, including a dropped catch by Babar Azam at leg slip when he was on 150 and a successful review overturning a leg-before decision. He added 114 runs for the sixth wicket with Litton Das (56), and then formed a record-breaking 196-run partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (77) for the seventh wicket, surpassing the previous record of 186 runs set by New Zealand’s Warren Lees and Richard Hadlee in Karachi in 1976.
Fast bowler Mohammad Ali dismissed Mushfiqur for 191, denying him a double century. Mehidy Hasan was dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi after a solid 77 from 179 balls. Shoriful Islam contributed a quick 22 before Bangladesh’s innings ended, with Naseem Shah finishing as the most successful pacer with 3-93.
Pakistan’s assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and pacer Naseem Shah acknowledged the pitch’s lack of support for fast bowlers. Despite the challenging conditions, Pakistan’s bowlers persevered.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN (1st Innings): 448-6 declared (Mohammad Rizwan 171*, Saud Shakeel 141, Saim Ayub 56; Shoriful Islam 2-77, Hasan Mahmud 2-70)
BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 316-5):
– Shadman Islam b Ali 93
– Zakir Hasan c Rizwan b Naseem 12
– Najmul Hossain b Khurram 16
– Mominul Haque b Khurram 50
– Mushfiqur Rahim c Rizwan b Ali 191
– Shakib Al Hasan c Shan b Saim 15
– Litton Das c Rizwan b Naseem 56
– Mehidy Hasan c Salman b Shaheen 77
– Hasan Mahmud c Rizwan b Shaheen 0
– Shoriful Islam c Abdullah b Naseem 22
– Nahid Rana not out 1
Extras (B-2, LB-25, NB-3, W-2): 32
TOTAL (all out, 167.3 overs): 565
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-31 (Hasan), 2-53 (Najmul), 3-147 (Mominul), 4-199 (Shadman), 5-218 (Shakib), 6-332 (Litton), 7-528 (Mushfiqur), 8-534 (Hasan), 9-557 (Mehidy)
BOWLING: Shaheen 30-3-88-2; Naseem 27.3-6-93-3 (1w, 1nb); Khurram 29-3-90-2 (1nb); Ali 31-4-88-2 (1w, 1nb); Salman 41-3-136-0; Saim 7-1-34-1; Saud 2-0-9-0
PAKISTAN (2nd Innings):
– Abdullah Shafique not out 12
– Saim Ayub c Litton b Shoriful 1
– Shan Masood not out 9
Extras (LB-1): 1
TOTAL (for one wicket, 10 overs): 23
FALL OF WICKET: 1-5 (Saim)
STILL TO BAT: Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali
**BOWLING**: Shoriful 5-2-13-1; Hasan 5-2-9-0
