In a thrilling display of bowling mastery, pacemen Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana shined on the fourth day of the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The duo combined to take nine wickets as they pushed Bangladesh closer to a historic series victory over Pakistan.
Hasan Mahmud was the standout performer with a career-best figures of 5-43, while Nahid Rana supported him admirably with 4-44. Their stellar bowling efforts restricted Pakistan to a total of 172 runs in their second innings, leaving Bangladesh with a target of 185 to secure a 2-0 series win.
As the openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam got off to a strong start, reaching 42 without loss, the dark clouds gathered overhead, and poor light interrupted play after the tea break. The rain delay added to the suspense, with Bangladesh now needing 143 runs on the final day to clinch victory.
Bangladesh, who had already secured a surprise win in Rawalpindi last month, showed confidence in their ability to deliver another upset. Meanwhile, Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie admitted that the odds were in favor of Bangladesh, but expressed faith in his team’s bowling prowess.
The match swung in Bangladesh’s favor as Hasan Mahmud dismantled the Pakistani batting lineup, with crucial breakthroughs at key moments. His five-wicket haul was a career milestone, and he emphasized the team’s determination to capitalize on their strong position.
On the other hand, Nahid Rana’s impressive spell in the morning session set the tone for Bangladesh’s dominance. His three early wickets, including key dismissals of Shan Masood and Babar Azam, put Pakistan on the back foot and paved the way for Hasan Mahmud’s heroics.
As the series finale approaches, all eyes will be on Bangladesh as they aim to create history with a series win against Pakistan. The tantalizing prospect of a 2-0 victory adds to the excitement of the final day’s play, where Bangladesh will look to maintain their momentum and etch their name in the cricketing annals.
