Nahid's stunning five-for seals historic win

Published : Tuesday, 12 May, 2026 at 6:02 PM Count : 7

Nahid Rana produced a devastating reverse-swinging spell to bowl Bangladesh to a historic 104-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday, sealing the hosts' first Test win against Pakistan on home soil, and their third overall.

The 23-year-old pacer finished with a remarkable 5 for 40 from 9.5 overs — a career-best bowling figure and his second five-wicket haul in Test cricket — his final spell of 4.5 overs yielding four wickets for just 10 runs to turn the match decisively in Bangladesh's favour.

Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed chipped in with two wickets each as Pakistan were bowled out for 163, falling well short of their 268-run target.

The victory also saw captain Najmul Hossain Shanto equal Mushfiqur Rahim's record of seven Test wins as Bangladesh captain — achieving the milestone in just 17 matches compared to Mushfiq's 34.

Bangladesh had declared their second innings on 240 for nine earlier in the day, setting Pakistan a target of 268 with a minimum of 76 overs remaining. Shanto, who had scored 101 in the first innings, anchored the second innings with a commanding 87 off 150 balls before Bangladesh eventually declared. Mominul Haque's 56, scored on the fourth day, was the second highest tally of the innings.

The chase began disastrously for Pakistan when Taskin Ahmed found the edge of Imam-ul-Haq's bat with the final delivery of his first over, the ball climbing sharply off a length to be pouched by wicket-keeper Litton Kumar Das just before lunch. Pakistan went to the interval on six for one, with debutant Azan Awais on three and fellow first-timer Abdullah Fazal on one.

After the break, Pakistan accelerated as Fazal found another gear, but Bangladesh struck a decisive double blow. Mehidy Hasan Miraz pierced Azan's defence with a fast arm ball to dismiss him for 15 off 33 balls, before Nahid found the edge of captain Shan Masood's bat to remove him for two. Despite the fall of wickets, Fazal continued from where he had left off in the first innings, reaching a second consecutive fifty before guiding Pakistan to tea at 116 for three, with Salman Ali Agha contributing 21 off 31.

The final session belonged entirely to Bangladesh. Taijul struck immediately after the interval, using a review to dismiss Fazal for 66 off 113 balls. Taskin then removed Agha for 26 off 39 to leave Pakistan reeling at 121 for five. Rizwan survived a review in the same over, but his reprieve was brief.

Nahid then opened the floodgates in his second spell. He first had Saud Shakeel caught behind for 15 before producing the delivery of the match — a thunderous 147kph inswinging yorker that crashed through Mohammad Rizwan's defences to leave Pakistan tottering at 153 for seven. Taijul removed Hasan Ali for one, before Nahid trapped Noman Ali in front for four in the very next over.

The end came swiftly. Nahid bounced out Shaheen Shah Afridi at the 52.5 over mark, Mominul taking a simple catch at short leg to complete Pakistan's innings for 163 and seal a famous victory.

It was Bangladesh's first Test win against Pakistan at home, and their third overall against their neighbours, with Nahid’s career-best figures the catalyst for a memorable triumph. Bangladesh lead the series 1-0 with one Test to play.

Bangladesh's first innings of 413 had been built around Shanto's 101 — his ninth Test century — Mominul's 91 and Mushfiq's gritty birthday 71. Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas claimed 5 for 92 while Afridi took 3 for 113. In reply, debutant Azan top-scored with 103 while Miraz's five-wicket haul restricted Pakistan to 386, handing Bangladesh a 27-run first innings lead.

FP/MI