Mushfiqur Rahim narrowly missed a double century, becoming the second Bangladesh batter after Mohammad Ashraful to be dismissed in the 190s, as Pakistan found themselves in a challenging position during the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Mushfiqur’s remarkable 191 anchored Bangladesh to a formidable total of 565, their third-highest score in an away Test, responding to Pakistan’s 448 for six declared.
Resuming on the fourth day at his overnight score of 55, Mushfiqur showcased his resilience and determination. His innings spanned eight hours and 42 minutes, during which he faced 341 deliveries, smashing 22 boundaries and a solitary six.
His departure, after edging a delivery from Mohammad Ali to the wicketkeeper, brought an end to Bangladesh’s innings. Mohammad Ali was one of Pakistan’s standout bowlers, finishing with figures of two for 88.
Mushfiqur’s exceptional knock included his 11th Test century, making him the second-highest century-maker for Bangladesh, trailing only Mominul Haque’s 12 centuries.
His innings was pivotal in Bangladesh’s resurgence, especially after he was granted a lifeline via DRS when on 59. Partnering with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur broke a 48-year-old record for the highest seventh-wicket partnership against Pakistan, putting on 196 runs. This stand surpassed the previous best of 186 runs set by Warren Lees and Sir Richard Hadlee in 1976.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz also contributed significantly with a gritty 77 off 179 balls, including six boundaries. His resistance ended when he was dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who celebrated the birth of his first child with figures of two for 88.
Earlier, Shaheen had also claimed the wicket of Hasan Mahmud, who was dismissed for a duck. Naseem Shah was Pakistan’s most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 93 runs, including the dismissals of Litton Das and Shoriful Islam.
As the day concluded, Pakistan, trailing by 117 runs, faced a challenging task with the bat. They ended the day at 23 for one, with Abdullah Shafique and captain Shan Masood unbeaten at the crease.
Saim Ayub was the only casualty, departing for just one run. Pakistan’s hopes of setting a competitive target now rest on their top order as they look to avoid an early collapse on the final day.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who earlier scored an unbeaten 171, was active behind the stumps, taking four catches but also dropping a crucial one, giving Mehidy an extra life at 52. As the match heads into its final day, Pakistan will need a strong batting display to stay in contention.
