Naheed Rana produced a match-defining spell as Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 104 runs in the rain-affected first Test in Dhaka on Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead after a dramatic final day in the two-match series. Chasing 268 runs for victory Pakistan national cricket team At 119 for 3 and later at 163 all out, the contest was still on, as Bangladesh secured a memorable win at Mirpur. The visitors briefly rebuilt their innings through debutant Abdullah Fazal, who smashed 66, but the chase ended quickly after his wicket fell early in the final session.
Fazil’s dismissal came after a sharp turning delivery. Tejul Islam Got it lbw, confirmed on review, and Pakistan’s resistance collapsed almost immediately. Salman Ali Agha fell at slip in the very next over, and the momentum shifted strongly in Bangladesh’s favour. From there, Rana took complete control of the game. Despite conceding early runs, they bounced back with devastating effect. Saud ShakeelMohammad Rizwan Hasan AliNoman Ali, and Shaheen Afridi. His spell included a 147km/h nip-baker that cleared Rizwan, underscoring his growing reputation as Bangladesh’s emerging pace leader. Bangladesh had earlier posted a strong total around Najamul Hussain Shanto’s 87, giving Pakistan a target that always looked challenging on a final-day pitch. Pakistan’s chase began cautiously after the loss of Imamul-Haq before lunch, but Fazl’s counter-attack revived hopes. However, Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack ensured sustained pressure, eventually forcing an end that saw five wickets fall in the final session. The result marks Bangladesh’s third Test win in a row against Pakistan and their first home victory against them, marking a new era of confidence in Red Ball cricket.
