Bangladesh's off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz delivered a stellar performance, claiming five wickets to help the Tigers bowl out Pakistan for 274 on the first day of the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
This marked Miraz's tenth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The bowlers worked cohesively, maintaining pressure on the Pakistani batsmen throughout the innings.
Miraz finished with figures of 5 for 61, while pacer Taskin Ahmed contributed with three wickets. For Pakistan, Saim Ayub and Agha Salman both scored half-centuries.
In response, Bangladesh openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan faced two overs without losing a wicket, scoring 10 runs. Shadman had a stroke of luck when Saud Shakeel dropped him at fifth slip off Mir Hamza's bowling on the very first delivery.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first on the second day of the series-deciding Test, as the first day was washed out due to persistent rain.
Taskin Ahmed made an early breakthrough, dismissing Abdullah Shafique in the first over with a ball that swung away and then nipped back in to hit the stumps.
Saim Ayub and captain Shan Masood steadied the Pakistan innings, reaching 99 for 1 at lunch. Masood was unbeaten on 53, and Ayub had scored 43.
After the break, Miraz dismissed Shan Masood leg before wicket. The ball pitched on middle stump and straightened, hitting Masood's pads. Despite a review, the decision was upheld. Masood had scored 57 from 69 balls.
Babar Azam came to the crease but was soon dismissed by Miraz. Taskin Ahmed then removed Saud Shakeel, and Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Babar Azam leg before wicket, leaving Pakistan on 183 for 5 at the end of the session.
In the next session, Nahid Rana dismissed Mohammad Rizwan with a ball that bounced and caught the edge. Miraz continued his impressive spell, dismissing Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, and Abrar Ahmed to bowl out Pakistan for 274.
