Bangladesh lose Chattogram Test by 8 wickets

Pakistan cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh as Bangladesh failed to pull off any miracle on the final day of the Chattogram Test.

Chasing 201, needed 93 runs on the final day having 10-wicket in hand, Pakistan comfortably reach the total by losing two of their openers.

They took just two hours to race to the victory to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Opener Abid Ali missed out a back-to-back century by nine runs and that was the only scar Bangladesh could do for Pakistan.

Abid Ali and debutant Abdullah Shafique put on a 151-run partnership for the opening stand, their second consecutive 100-plus stand in the match to edge Pakistan closer to victory.

Abid who scored 133 in the first innings, struck 12 boundaries for his 91 off 148 in this innings.

Shafique followed his 52 with 73 off 129, studded by eight fours and one six, before offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz had him dismissed lbw to give Bangladesh a breakthrough on the fifty day.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam also had Abid Ali out via leg-before, baffling him with a sharp turn.

Azhar Ali and captain Babar Azam then completed the inevitable with the former hitting consecutive boundaries off Miraz to sign off the game. Azhar was unbeaten on 24 and Azam was on 13.

With the help of the maiden century from Liton Das, Bangladesh were bowled out for 330 in their first innings before gaining a 44-run lead, dismissing Pakistan for 286.

But fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi returned figures of 5-32 to wrap up Bangladesh's second innings for 157, which set a 202-run target for the visitors.

The second and final Test is in Dhaka from December 4-8.

ARR