Sports Desk:

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 104 runs short of their 267-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 Mushfiqur’s 34.

Bangladesh had declared their second innings on 240 for nine earlier in the day, setting Pakistan a target of 267 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 score 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 wicketkeeper Litton 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 Rana found the edge of captain Shan Masood’s bat to remove him for two. Despite the falling wickets, Fazal continued his impressive form from 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 Islam struck immediately after the interval, using a review to dismiss Fazal for 66 off 113 balls. Taskin then removed Salman 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.

Rana then opened the floodgates in his second spell. He first had Saud Shakil caught behind for 15 before producing the delivery of the match — a thunderous 147 kilometres-per-hour inswinging yorker that crashed through Mohammad Rizwan’s defences to leave Pakistan 153 for seven. Taijul removed Hasan Ali for one, before Rana trapped Noman Ali lbw for four in the very next over.

The end came swiftly. Rana bounced out Shaheen Shah Afridi at the 52.5 over mark, Mominul Haque 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 Rana’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 Mushfiqur Rahim’s gritty birthday 71. Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas claimed 5 for 92 while Shaheen Shah Afridi took 3 for 113. In reply, debutant Azan Awais top-scored with 103 while Miraz’s five-wicket haul restricted Pakistan to 386, handing Bangladesh a 27-run first innings lead.