Bangladesh completed a historic Test series whitewash over Pakistan in Sylhet after Taijul Islam ripped through the lower order on the fifth morning and finished with six wickets.
Bangladesh closed out the chase after Pakistan resumed on 319-7, still needing 119 runs to reach the target. Mohammad Rizwan fought deep into the session and made 94, but Shariful Islam removed him at gully in the 97th over to leave Pakistan one wicket from defeat.
Taijul carried Bangladesh through the morning after Pakistan threatened to drag the match away. Rizwan and Sajid Khan attacked early and added quick runs against both pace and spin. Pakistan reached 353-7 after 93 overs and cut the deficit to 84.
Bangladesh missed a major chance when Sajid miscued a pull off Nahid Rana. The ball hung between Litton Das and Taijul at short square leg, but neither man claimed the catch. Sajid survived on 26 and Pakistan kept moving towards the target.
Taijul broke the stand three overs later. Sajid edged to Najmul Hossain Shanto at slip for 28, ending a stubborn 54-run partnership for the eighth wicket. The left-arm spinner then removed the tail to complete a six-wicket haul after bowling long spells across the final two days.
Rizwan kept Pakistan alive with controlled strokeplay and sharp running between the wickets. He handled Taijul carefully and punished loose balls from the seamers, but Pakistan lost partners around him and never fully recovered from the collapse late on day four.
Bangladesh controlled most of the Test after Taijul split the 134-run stand between Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha on Tuesday evening. The hosts pressed with attacking fields and forced Pakistan’s lower order to defend for long periods.
The win gives Bangladesh four straight Test victories over Pakistan, their best run against the opposition. Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side also moved above India national cricket team and England cricket team in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
