PAK vs BAN: Naseem Shah’s hat-trick guides Pakistan to thump Bangladesh in Rawalpindi Test
Pakistan-Bangladesh first Test (Image Source: Twitter)

Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi to earn 60 World Test Championship (WTC) Points. They now have 140 points in the WTC standings and at fourth place after England (146), Australia (296), and India (360).

After folding Bangladesh at 233 in the first innings, Pakistan posted 445 in reply. Opener Shan Masood (100) and middle-order batsman Babar Azam (143) smashed centuries and took Pakistan in a commanding position.

In the second innings, Pakistan bowled out the visitors for 168-10 to win the contest by an innings and 44 runs, thanks to Naseem Shah, who dismantled the Bangladesh batting unit by grabbing his Test career’s first hat-trick. He finished with 4 for 26 in 8.2 overs.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah (4-58) also joined the party and claimed a 4-fer. Yasir dismissed the last wicket of Bangladesh to take his side to register a memorable victory.

Without any surprises, Naseem was rewarded with the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his clinical performance with the ball.

The youngster reacted after he received the honor and said that getting a three-ball-three was special in front of the home crowd.

“Not a big issue, nothing serious in the MRI scan. Getting a hat-trick in front of the home crowd is a huge achievement. The crowd supported us throughout the match. The review that Azhar Ali took was a crucial one. He suggested it was hitting the leg stump. And I tried to follow it up with a yorker and then a straighter one. I’ll try my best in the future, and it’s the wish of mine to continue doing the same for my country.”

The second and final match of the Test series will take place from April 05 at National Stadium in Karachi.

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