Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam produced a masterful bowling performance to claim 6-120, dismantling Pakistan’s stubborn resistance on the final morning to secure a 78-run victory for Bangladesh in the second Test.
The dramatic win at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium completes a historic 2-0 series sweep, marking Bangladesh’s fourth consecutive Test triumph over Pakistan.
Chasing a monumental and record-defying target of 437, Pakistan resumed the fifth morning at 316-7, needing 121 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan anchoring their hopes.
After wet ground conditions delayed the start of play, the visitors launched a spirited counter-attack to cross the 350-mark, keeping the chase alive and cutting the deficit to double digits.
However, Taijul broke through the burgeoning lower-order resistance. He beautifully looped a delivery to dip and turn past the bat of Sajid Khan (28), drawing a sharp outside edge that captain Najmul Hossain Shanto safely caught at first slip.
With this dismissal, Taijul completed his 18th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Shoriful Islam then delivered the definitive blow of the morning by removing a valiant Rizwan. Moving a length ball wide of off-stump, Shoriful induced a loose cut shot from Rizwan (94), who picked out Mehidy Hasan Miraz at gully.
Rizwan’s departure for a gritty 94 left the visitors in despair, and Taijul swiftly wrapped up the match just an over later, enticing Khurram Shahzad to sky a catch to long-on to bundle Pakistan out for 358. Pakistan's last three wickets fell on 258.
Litton Das who scored 126 runs in the first innings followed by 69 in the second innings was adjudged player of the match while veteran Mushifiqur Rahim was named player of the series for scoring 253 runs in the series, including a century in their second innings.
The comprehensive series victory was built on sensational individual performances across the five days.
After being put in to bat, Bangladesh posted 278 in the first innings, rescued from a top-order collapse by Litton Das’s majestic 126. Bangladesh’s bowlers then restricted Pakistan to 232, securing a crucial 46-run lead despite a defiant 68 from Babar Azam.
The hosts drove the game completely out of Pakistan's reach in the second innings by racking up 390. That historic batting display was headlined by veteran maestro Mushfiqur Rahim, who struck an outstanding 137 off 233 balls to notch his 14th career century, eclipsing Mominul Haque for the most Test hundreds in Bangladesh’s history.
Though Pakistan's middle-order fought tenaciously during the fourth innings—highlighted by a roaring 134-run partnership between Rizwan and Salman Agha (71)—Taijul's clever variations consistently altered the game's momentum.
Having already accounted for Babar (47) and Shan Masood (71) earlier in the innings, Taijul’s final morning masterclass ensured Bangladesh sealed the maximum World Test Championship points on offer.
With back-to-back comprehensive victories following their historic away series win in late 2024, Shanto’s clinical side has definitively underscored a profound power shift in Asian red-ball cricket.