Bangladesh stands on the brink of making history in the Rawalpindi Test, needing just 143 more runs to secure a momentous victory over Pakistan and clinch the series 2-0, achieving a historic whitewash. The fifth day promises to be a thrilling climax, with the Tigers poised to etch their names in the annals of cricket.
At the end of the fourth day, Bangladesh's second innings was off to a flying start, reaching 42 without loss in just 7 overs. Zakir Hasan, with an aggressive 31 not out, and Shadman Islam, steady on 9, have set the stage for a potentially historic chase.
Earlier, Hasan Mahmud made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi fast bowler to take a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in Test cricket. Hasan, who had already taken two wickets overnight to reduce the hosts to 9-2 in their second innings, achieved his first success on the fourth day by dismissing Mohammad Rizwan for 43.
This wicket brought much-needed relief to the Bangladesh camp, as Rizwan and Salman Agha had built a 55-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Hasan then swiftly dismissed Mohammad Ali for a duck with the very next ball, before concluding Pakistan's innings by removing Mir Hamza for four at second slip.
As a result, Bangladesh were set a target of 185 runs to win the second Test and complete a historic series whitewash against Pakistan.Chasing a target of 185, Bangladesh's openers came out with intent, particularly Zakir Hasan, who attacked from the outset. His aggressive approach, featuring 2 fours and 2 sixes, has kept the momentum firmly with Bangladesh, batting at an impressive strike rate of 134.
Shadman Islam has played the perfect supporting role, showcasing a classic Test match temperament. Together, they have given Bangladesh a solid platform to push for victory. However, the excitement was temporarily halted by bad light.
After the tea break, play was stopped after just one over due to poor light conditions. Dark clouds loomed over Rawalpindi, and despite the floodlights being turned on, the umpires decided to halt play. The ground staff quickly covered the pitch as rain began to fall.
With about an hour and a half of play remaining, heavy rain caused water to accumulate on the outfield. Even after the rain stopped, it took considerable time to make the field playable again, leading the umpires to call off the day's play.
As the final day approaches, anticipation is high. Bangladesh is on the verge of a historic series win, and the cricketing world watches with bated breath to see if they can overcome the final hurdle and achieve a famous whitewash against Pakistan.
