Bangladesh vs Pakistan: Shanto’s 87 Sets 268-Run Target in Mirpur Test

A Captain’s Masterclass: Najmul Hossain Shanto Leads from the Front

The fifth and final morning of the pulsating Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium delivered exactly the kind of drama fans have come to expect from Mirpur. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was the undisputed star of the morning session, anchoring the hosts’ second innings with a composed 87. Coming off a brilliant 101 in the first innings, Shanto looked destined to become a rare centurion in both innings of a Test match before a moment of risk-taking brought his stay to an end.

Shanto’s 87-run knock was a masterclass in patience and technical discipline. Facing 150 deliveries, he struck seven boundaries, meticulously navigating the challenging turn and bounce of the fifth-day pitch. His partnership with Mominul Haque, who contributed a vital 56 earlier in the innings, allowed Bangladesh to build on their slender first-innings lead of 27 runs. By the time Shanto attempted a reverse hit against Noman Ali and missed, he had already put his side in a position of relative safety, ensuring Pakistan would need to score at a healthy rate to secure a victory.

The Morning Collapse and Pakistan’s Bowling Resilience

Despite Shanto’s dominance, the morning session was far from easy for the hosts. Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by the tireless Hasan Ali and the experienced Noman Ali, struck crucial blows to prevent Bangladesh from batting the visitors out of the game completely. The session started with Hasan Ali finding his rhythm early, removing the veteran Mushfiqur Rahim for 22. Mushfiqur had looked aggressive, hitting four boundaries in his 37-ball stay, but a lapse in concentration saw him lofting a catch to Shan Masood at mid-off.

The pressure mounted as Litton Das, visibly struggling with an injury sustained shortly after arriving at the crease, failed to find his usual flow. Litton’s uncomfortable 28-ball stay ended on 11 when Shaheen Afridi induced an edge that flew to fine leg. Hasan Ali, continuing his impactful morning, took a spectacular catch to send the wicketkeeper-batter back to the pavilion. With the middle order wobbling, the responsibility fell back onto Shanto and the lower order to stretch the lead beyond the 250-run mark.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz and the Counter-Attack

Recognizing the need for quick runs before a potential declaration, Mehidy Hasan Miraz shifted gears. Mehidy, who had already claimed a five-wicket haul in Pakistan’s first innings, showed his prowess with the bat by taking the attack to Shaheen Afridi. He dispatched the premier left-arm pacer for two boundaries in quick succession before turning his attention to Noman Ali, launching the spinner for a massive six over midwicket. Although Mohammad Rizwan missed a difficult stumping opportunity to dismiss Mehidy, the aggressive intent served its purpose, pushing the lead toward the 260s.

A Historic Milestone for Noman Ali

While Bangladesh was focused on the target, the morning also belonged to Pakistan’s veteran spinner Noman Ali. In a moment of historical significance, Noman dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz with a classic delivery that drifted in and turned away, marking his 100th wicket in Test cricket. At the age of 39 years and 213 days, Noman became the oldest player in the history of the sport to reach the 100-wicket milestone. It was a fitting reward for a bowler who has consistently provided control and breakthroughs for Pakistan since his late debut.

The Declaration and the Final Chase

The declaration finally came in the 21st over of the morning session when Taskin Ahmed fell to Hasan Ali, leaving Bangladesh at 240 for 9. With a 27-run lead from the first innings, the total lead stood at 267, meaning Pakistan requires 268 runs to win the match. Captain Shanto’s decision to declare gives his bowlers a minimum of 76 overs to dismantle the Pakistani batting lineup on a pitch that is increasingly favoring spin.

Pakistan’s chase will be a test of nerves. Chasing 268 on a Day 5 Mirpur track is historically a gargantuan task. The visitors will lean heavily on the likes of Shan Masood and Babar Azam to navigate the spin threat of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam. For Bangladesh, the mission is clear: remain disciplined, exploit the cracks in the surface, and secure a famous victory at home. With all three results still possible, the final sessions of this Test match promise to be a classic encounter in the annals of Bangladesh-Pakistan cricket history.