Who is Nahid Rana, Bangladesh's emerging cricket sensation behind Pakistan's batting collapse?

Nahid Rana's career-best 4 for 44 spearheaded Bangladesh's bowling attack on the fourth afternoon of the second Test in Rawalpindi, as they bowled out Pakistan for 172, setting up a challenging 185-run chase for a potential series sweep. Rana¡¯s exceptional bowling performance ensured Pakistan never gained momentum, effectively breaking crucial partnerships and crippling their innings.

Rana's moment of brilliance came when he dismissed Pakistan's Test captain, Shan Masood, in the 17th over of their second innings. Rana delivered a ball slightly back of a length at 144.6 kph, which moved away from the off stump.

Masood, visibly unsettled, attempted to slice it through the off-side but ended up edging it to Litton Das, who took a comfortable catch behind the stumps. This marked the beginning of Pakistan's rapid collapse.

Rana continued to dominate, adding the key wickets of Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel to his tally. Babar, who had managed a modest 31 in the first innings, was expected to anchor Pakistan¡¯s innings in the second.

lout aao ramiz raja ab toh pindi mai bhi zalalat horrahi hai ? #PAKvBAN | #BabarAzampic.twitter.com/JFFQvA3Mhx

¡ª Ashraf. (@akhunzada74) September 2, 2024

However, Rana's sharp delivery, which was again slightly back of a length and moving away, caught Babar off guard. Babar, misjudging the line, edged it to Shadman Islam at first slip after scoring just 11 runs. This left Pakistan struggling at 65/5 with only a 77-run lead.

Who is Nahid Rana?

Nahid Rana, who was born in Chapai Nawabganj, Bangladesh, on October 2, 2002, is a talented cricket player who has gained recognition fast. In the spring of 2024, Rana, a right-hand batter and bowler, made his Test debut against Sri Lanka. Since then, he has made a name for himself as one of Bangladesh's fastest bowlers, renowned for his raw pace and aggressive style.

Rana's cricket career is distinct because he started at the comparatively late age of eighteen. Rana's ascension to the national team is all the more impressive considering that, in contrast to many other Bangladeshi cricketers, he did not go straight from the Under-19 team to the senior squad. On March 22, 2024, he made his debut against Sri Lanka, and it was nothing short of remarkable. He hit a century in his first game, establishing himself as a young player to watch in the world of international cricket.

Currently, Rana is showcasing his talents in the ongoing Bangladesh vs. Pakistan Test series, where his recent bowling performance has already made a significant impact. With his potential and determination, Nahid Rana is poised to become a key player for Bangladesh in the years to come.

Rana leads the charge as Pakistan crumbles

Resuming their innings at 117 for 6 after lunch, Pakistan was aiming to extend their slender lead with Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha at the crease. Salman managed to edge one over the slip cordon early in the session, but Rana and the rest of the Bangladesh bowlers maintained tight lines, denying easy runs and creating pressure.

The breakthrough came when Rizwan edged a delivery to the wicketkeeper off Hasan Mahmud's bowling. Mahmud, who had already claimed two wickets late on day three, struck again, removing Mohammad Ali with his very next delivery. Despite Salman's unbeaten 47 and a last-wicket stand of 27 runs with Mir Hamza, Pakistan's innings folded at 172 in 46.4 overs.

While Hasan Mahmud finished with a career-best 5 for 43, it was Nahid Rana's four-wicket haul that set the tone for Bangladesh's dominant performance. His early strikes and consistent pressure have positioned Bangladesh on the brink of a historic series win against Pakistan.

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As the match approaches its final stages, Bangladesh will be eyeing a series sweep, needing 185 runs to secure victory. At the time of writing, Bangladesh had reached 37/0 after 6 overs, with Zakir Hasan on 27 runs and Shadman Islam on 8 runs.

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