Bangladesh vs. Pakistan: Winners and Losers from 2nd Test

Pakistan completed a mammoth 328-run win over Bangladesh in Dhaka to seal the two-match Test series 1-0.

An emphatic batting performance from the visitors, as well as some crafty bowling, helped Pakistan bounce back after being trounced by Bangladesh in the limited-overs series in April.

Bangladesh will now start preparing for South Africa’s visit in July, while Pakistan can breathe a sigh of relief that they have rediscovered some of their mojo.

We’ve picked some winners and losers from the second Test. Feel free to add yours in the comments section.

Winner: Yasir Shah and Leg Spin

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Yasir Shah’s bowling was one of the biggest highlights of this Test. It was poetry in motion, and not since Shane Warne has anyone enjoyed watching a leg-spinner this much.

His delivery to dismiss Imrul Kayes was simply extraordinary, and Shah showed just how useful spin and, in particular leg-spin, can be when a player gets it right. With real spinners becoming something of a rarity in Test cricket, to see Shah in full flight was a joy to behold.

He finished the match with seven wickets and played an integral part in setting up the victory.

Loser: Bangladesh’s Batsmen

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For all the promise the Bangladesh batsmen showed in April's one-day internationals against Pakistan, they lost their way in the Test series.

Pakistan’s bowlers deserve heaps of credit, but Bangladesh’s players are still a little bit lacking in temperament in the longest format of the game. Poor shot decisions and lack of patience cost the hosts on a number of occasions. They did well to draw the first Test, but they still need to work on digging in when it comes to taking on big totals.

Winner: Azhar Ali

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Azhar Ali’s emphatic double century in the first innings set the foundation for Pakistan to notch a big total.

After the openers were dismissed early in the first innings, Ali knuckled down along with Younis Khan to help set the tone and bat Bangladesh out of the game. Ali showed some promise throughout this series, and he finally lived up to it in this Test.

Loser: Bangladesh’s Spirit

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After reaching the quarter-finals of the Cricket World Cup, many believed Bangladesh had turned a corner.

They proved that their run in the tournament was no fluke when they trounced Pakistan in the limited-overs series in April, but their spirits will be somewhat crushed after such a big defeat in the longest format of the game.

It’s not all doom and gloom for Bangladesh, as there were enough positive signs to believe that they can build from here, but knowing that the next team they will face is South Africa might play on their minds a little bit.

Winner: Test Cricket

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This might be a little bit cliched, but Test cricket was definitely a winner.

Whether it was Yasir Shah’s leg-spin, Azhar Ali’s double century, Shakib Al Hasan’s lone-ranger effort or simply the overall ebb and flow of this match, it was a great Test to watch for the neutrals.

The second Test also had a great pitch, which added extra spice and showed that with the right conditions, the longest format of the game can have something for everyone.