Yasir Shah leads Pakistan to series win

Legspinner Yasir Shah claimed a match-haul of seven wickets as Pakistan crushed Bangladesh by 328 runs in the second and final Test in Dhaka on Saturday to clinch the series 1-0. Bangladesh, who resumed their second innings at 63 for 1 chasing an improbable target of 550, were shot out for 221 in the post-lunch session of the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Yasir, who took three for 58 in the first innings, once again baffled the Bangladesh batsmen with his leg-spin and googly on the wearing pitch to grab four for 73 in the second knock. Mominul Haque played a lone hand for the hosts with 68, joining West Indies great Vivian Richards and the Indian pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir as the only batsmen to score 50 runs or more in 11 consecutive Tests.

Shuvagata Hom hit 39, sharing a ninth-wicket stand of 44 with Mohammad Shahid, to steer Bangladesh past the 200-run mark after they were reduced to 143 for 7 soon after lunch. The match ended at the fall of the ninth wicket as Shahadat Hossain was unable to bat after suffering a serious knee injury on the first day.

The win helped Pakistan end an otherwise dismal month-long tour on a positive note after being routed 3-0 in the one-day series and losing to Bangladesh for the first time in a Twenty20 international. It was Bangladesh's ninth loss to Pakistan in 10 Tests, the only consolation coming through a draw in the first Test of the short series in Khulna last week.

Pakistan turned the screws on the hosts with four quick wickets in the morning session to leave the rivals tottering at 126 for five. Imran Khan, a late replacement for the injured Rahat Ali, dealt two major blows when he removed the in-form Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Mahmudullah in the space of nine runs. Tamim, who slammed a double-century in the first Test, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed for 42 as he slashed at a short delivery from Imran.

Mahmudullah made two when he edged Imran to second slip where Younis Khan picked up the catch on second attempt as Bangladesh slipped from 86 for 1 to 95 for 3. Offspinner Mohammad Hafeez struck in his first over when Shakib Al Hasan (13) stepped out to loft a flighted ball and gave Wahab Riaz an easy catch at mid-off.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim had yet to score when he dragged a delivery from Yasir onto the stumps as Bangladesh went to lunch at 134 for 5. Left-arm seamer Wahab dismissed Soumya Sarkar soon after resumption for one, before Asad Shafiq took a sharp, low catch in the covers off Yasir to remove the defiant Mominul.

Shuvagata lashed out at the end with six boundaries before he was bowled by Junaid Khan to seal Pakistan's comprehensive win.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 557 for 8 dec (Azhar 226, Younis 148, Shafiq 107) and 195 for 6 dec (Misbah 82) beat Bangladesh 203 (Shakib 89) and 221 (Mominul 68, Yasir 4 for 73) by 328 runs.