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Bangladesh etched their names in cricket history by securing a comprehensive 2-0 series sweep against Pakistan in the Test series that concluded on Tuesday. The second Test, played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, witnessed a thrilling chase as Bangladesh successfully reached their target of 185 runs in the 56th over of their second innings. The victory was made even sweeter by the fact that Shakib Al Hasan, the seasoned all-rounder, scored the winning runs.
This triumph marked a historic milestone for Bangladesh, as it was their first-ever Test series win against Pakistan. The Bangla Tigers’ dominance throughout the series was evident, with standout performances from Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
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Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s stellar contributions
Before this series, Bangladesh had never tasted victory in a Test match against Pakistan. However, they turned the tables dramatically, securing a resounding 10-wicket win in the first Test and following it up with another impressive six-wicket victory in the second.
The second Test saw Litton and Mehidy Hasan played pivotal roles in Bangladesh’s success. In the first innings, the duo rescued Bangladesh from a precarious position of 26/6, forming a crucial partnership. Mehidy scored a valuable 78 off 124 balls, while Litton showcased his class with a brilliant 138.
Mehidy Hasan, not only excelled with the bat but also made significant contributions with the ball. His exceptional bowling performance throughout the series earned him the well-deserved ‘Player of the Series’ award.
Mehidy Hasan’s heart of gold
In a post-match interview, Mehidy expressed his gratitude for the award and acknowledged the challenges of batting at number 8. He also highlighted the enjoyable partnership he formed with Litton and expressed his pride in picking up a five-wicket haul.
“First of all I would like to thank God for giving me this opportunity and this is my first award outside my home, so I am really happy. Well it is a tough job to bat at Number 8 but I enjoyed my batting with Litton Das. Yeah it is a really brilliant achievement for me to pick five wicket haul and I want to do better. I would like to give a lot of credit to my support staff for always backing me and I enjoyed practicing at home,” Mehidy stated in the post-match interview.
Mehidy dedicated the award to the family of a rickshaw driver who lost his life during a recent riot in Bangladesh.
“I would like to dedicate to my Bangladeshi Supporters that I have been have awarded as the Player of the Series. As we know back in Bangladesh, we have had a tough time as a rickshaw person has lost his life so I would like to dedicate this award to his family,” he added.
With a target of 185 runs to win, Bangladesh’s chase was relatively comfortable, sealing their historic series victory. This triumph not only marked a significant milestone for Bangladesh cricket but also ended Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
