After an unexpected defeat in the first Test of the series, the Pakistan cricket team aimed to bounce back but once again left their fans in disappointment. The second Test match, held in Rawalpindi, saw Pakistan collapse under pressure, unable to sustain its innings for even a full day, being bowled out for just 274 runs. This dismal performance marked another humiliating instance, with the Bangladeshi spin attack exploiting Pakistan’s batting frailties once more. Spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz wreaked havoc, taking crucial wickets and leading his side to an emphatic performance as Bangladesh ended the day with 10 runs without any loss.
Day One: A Disappointment for Pakistani Batsmen
The opening day of the match was entirely washed out due to rain, pushing the start to Saturday, August 31. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first. However, their innings began on a disastrous note when opener Abdullah Shafique fell prey to pace bowler Taskin Ahmed without scoring any runs. Captain Shan Masood and fellow opener Saim Ayub stabilized the innings with a significant partnership, giving hope to Pakistan fans. The duo added 107 runs, both scoring half-centuries, yet their dismissals led to a quick decline in the batting order.
Star Players Underperform
Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam, who is often relied upon for big scores, faltered once again, scoring just 31 runs. His inability to convert starts into substantial innings has now extended a long wait of 20 months for a half-century. Both Saud Shakeel, who scored a century in the previous match, and Mohammad Rizwan also fell cheaply, raising further concerns about the batting lineup’s consistency. The team’s situation could have been even worse had Agha Salman not held the innings together with a resilient score of 54 runs, helping lift Pakistan to a total of 274 runs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz: The Bowling Sensation
The downfall of the Pakistani batsmen can largely be attributed to the exceptional performance of Bangladeshi spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He dismantled the top order and played a pivotal role in keeping the team’s score low. In just ten matches of his Test career, Mehidy has already claimed five wickets in an innings on ten occasions, reinforcing his reputation as a leading spinner. He was instrumental in dismissing Masood and Ayub and did not allow the lower order to take flight, while veteran spinner Shakib Al Hasan accounted for Babar Azam’s wicket.
Match Summary Table
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Top Scorer | Bowler with Most Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 274 | 10 | Agha Salman (54) | Mehidy Hasan Miraz (5) |
| Bangladesh | 10* | – | – | – |
Looking Ahead
As the second Test continues, Pakistan will need to regroup and assess their strategies to counter the spin bowling of Bangladesh. The team’s performance will be under close scrutiny, and fans will hope for a remarkable comeback to avert a series defeat. With one Test match still remaining, both teams clearly have much at stake, and it will be interesting to see how the dynamics evolve in the coming days.
