A Test of Records

The first test between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Khulna served a buffet of records, a special treat for the Tigers fans at home and abroad. After eight successive losses, Bangladesh achieved their first draw against Pakistan, and this is merely the appetizer for the main dishes to come!

Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan (2L) shakes hands with Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (L) at close of play on the fifth and final day of the first Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at The Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on May 2, 2015. Photo: AFP

Pakistan's bowlers conceded as many records as the number of wickets they captured in the test match. To say they were under the pump in the second innings would be an understatement, especially after the Tamim and co battered them to a pulp for 136 overs.

Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal reacts after scoring a double century (200) during the fifth day of the first cricket Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at The Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on May 2, 2015. Photo: AFP

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal's 206 is their new highest individual score, and his 312-run partnership with Imrul Kayes broke the 55-year old record for the most runs added by an opening pair in the second innings.

Bangladesh cricketer Imrul Kayes celebrates scoring a century (100 runs) during the fourth day of the first cricket Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at The Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on May 1, 2015. Photo: AFP

It took 454 balls for Pakistani bowlers to break Tamim and Kayes' mammoth first wicket stand. The last time they had to wait so long for the first wicket was in 2006 when Chris Gayle and Darren Ganga of West Indies batted for 372 deliveries in Multan.

For the record, Bangladesh is the second Asian team after India whose openers have scored a hundred in the second innings of a test match.

The total tally of records for Bangladesh goes like this:

-Bangladesh's first 300-plus stand in test cricket

-The highest stand for any wicket: 312 runs

-The first ever 300-plus opening partnership in the 2nd innings of a test

-Tamim's 206 is the highest score by a Bangladeshi, beating Mushfiqur Rahim's 200

-Tamim struck seven sixes in his knock, the highest for a Bangladeshi batsman

-Tamim and Imrul faced 454 deliveries, the third highest by an opening pair against Pakistan

-Tamim scored his third consecutive hundred in the first test, the first Bangladeshi to do so

-Imrul Kayes became the fifth Bangladeshi to score 150 in tests

-555 for 6 is Bangladesh's third highest team total and is the fifth time they crossed 500

-The first time that a team has scored 500-plus runs against Pakistan in the 2nd innings

-First triple century stand for the 1st wicket against Pakistan since 2006

-Highest first innings deficit (296 runs) reduced by an opening stand

-Bangladesh scored 887 runs, eclipsing their record 882 scored against Zimbabwe in 2014