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MIRPUR: Bangladesh edged past Pakistan by eight runs to seal the T20I series, overcoming a late surge from Faheem Ashraf, whose gritty knock threatened to turn the tide in the second T20I of the three-match series here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a challenging 134-run total on a tricky surface, Pakistan were bowled out for 125 in 19.2 overs.
With this victory, Bangladesh clinched a T20I series for the first time against Pakistan.
Pakistan started poorly in the chase, losing half of the side in the first five overs. Saim Ayub (1) was run out, followed by Mohammad Haris, who was trapped in front for a golden duck in the second over.
Fakhar Zaman was also removed for eight while Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz were out without troubling the scorers as the home side reduced Green Shirts for 15-5 in only 4.4 overs.
Following the shambolic batting display from the top order, Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah attempted to stabilize the innings; however, their 15-run partnership took 28 balls, increasing the required run rate.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha perished after a sluggish knock of 9 runs off 23 balls while Khushdil could only manage to score 13 off 18 balls.
With Pakistan at 47-7 in 11.5 overs, Bangladesh’s victory was only a matter of time, until Faheem Ashraf’s resistance with the lower order.
The left-handed batter first forged a 41-run partnership with Abbas Afridi, who managed to score 17 with the aid of two sixes and four, bringing the score to 88 in 16.1 overs.
After Abbas’s removal, he put on another partnership of 33 runs with debutant Ahmed Daniyal. With 28 required off 12 balls, both batters took leg-spinner Rishad Hossain to the cleaners, accumulating 15 runs of the over.
However, Rishad cleaned up Faheem on the last ball to leave the equation at 13 from 6 balls. Ahmed Daniyal smashed a four on the first delivery, but he was out on the very next ball, giving Bangladesh a memorable series-clinching win.
Faheem Ashraf top-scored with 51 off 32 balls, with the help of four boundaries and an equal number of sixes, while Daniyal struck three fours in his valiant 17-run knock.
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam was the standout bowler, taking three wickets, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mahedi Hasan supported him well with two wickets apiece.
Jaker Ali was named as the player of the match for his impressive knock.
Earlier, all-round bowling effort from Pakistan booked Bangladesh for a meagre total.
Put into bat first, Bangladesh were bowled out for 133 on the last ball of the penultimate over, courtesy of an impressive bowling display from Pakistan.
Pakistan capitalized on the decision to bowl first, removing Bangladesh’s opener Mohammad Naim (3) in only the second over.
The Green Shirts were on the mark in the opening three overs, giving away only 14 runs, which restricted Tigers from scoring big amid the fielding restrictions.
However, Faheem Ashraf’s fourth over leaked 11 runs as Parvez Hossain Emon struck him for a six and four to take Bangladesh to 25-1. Consequently, it was Salman Mirza’s two-wicket fifth over that jolted back the home team.
The left-arm pacer first removed Bangladesh’s skipper Litton Das (8) on the first ball of the over, followed by the removal of Towhid Hridoy, who was run out courtesy of Salman Ali Agha’s direct hit from mid-off.
At the end of the powerplay, Bangladesh were 28-4 with previous match half-centurion Parvez Hossain Emon (13 off 14 deliveries) giving his wicket away.
The early wickets put Bangladesh in dire straits. A similar situation occurred to Pakistan in the opening T20I of the series.
However, a gutsy 53-run partnership between Jaker Ali and Mahedi Hasan lifted Bangladesh out of trouble, bringing the score to 81 in the 13th over.
Mahedi’s 33 off 25 balls featured two sixes and two fours. Following the partnership, the wickets continued to tumble in quick succession.
Meanwhile, Jaker Ali batted till the end, ensuring Bangladesh reached a decent total. His 55-run knock was laced with five sixes and a four.
For Pakistan, it was an all-round bowling effort. Abbas Afridi, Ahmed Daniyal, and Salman Mirza picked up two wickets each while Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf managed to scalp one apiece.
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