- Pakistan bundled out for 279 while chasing the 291-run target.
- Salman Ali Agha scores a brilliant 106, but Pakistan falls short.
- Taskin claims four crucial wickets to dent the Pakistan batting.
Bangladesh won the three-match ODI series 2-1 after beating Pakistan by 11 runs in the final match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 291, the Greenshirts were bowled out for 279 in their allotted 50 overs, struggling from the start after losing both openers in the first two overs of the innings.
Taskin Ahmed struck on the fifth delivery of the first over, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan for six off five balls after hitting a boundary.
Maaz Sadaqat was the next batsman to fall as Nahid Rana removed him with a bouncer after scoring six off five deliveries, including one six, leaving Pakistan at 12-2 in 1.5 overs.
Taskin struck again to deal another blow to Pakistan when he delivered a sharp delivery to Mohammad Rizwan that rattled the stumps. Rizwan managed to score four off as many balls and hit one boundary.
Debutant Ghazi Ghori and Abdul Samad then joined forces to stabilize the innings, creating a 50-run partnership that also took the team’s total past the 50-run mark.
Nahid struck on the last delivery of the 14th over, breaking the tie as Ghori departed after scoring 29 off 39 balls, including three fours and a six, as Pakistan were reduced to 67-4.
Pakistan felt further pressure when set batsman Abdul Samad departed after battling 34 off 45 deliveries, including five fours, as he was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman.
Salman Ali Agha and debutant Saad Masood then tried to rebuild the innings, adding some crucial runs and easing the pressure after the early setbacks, taking Pakistan’s total past 100 runs in the 21st over.
The duo then looked to rebuild the innings, rotating the strike well and scoring at a steady pace to ease the pressure after the early setbacks.
They played sensibly and kept the runs flowing, putting pressure on Bangladesh’s bowling attack while creating a valuable 50-run partnership.
However, the 79-run stand was broken after Mustafizur Rahman struck to dismiss Saad, who played an exceptional knock of 38 runs off 44 deliveries, taking the team to 161-6 in 31.2 overs.
Agha had good touch with the bat for Pakistan and kept the scoreboard ticking with confident strokeplay.
The right-hander brought up his 10th ODI half-century during the innings, raising his bat and offering some resistance amid Pakistan’s batting struggle.
However, Pakistan fell into further trouble after losing their seventh wicket when Taskin Ahmed struck again, dismissing Faheem Ashraf, who managed nine runs from 20 deliveries.
Agha led a valiant fight for the Men in Green and showed no restraint as he steadily piled up runs and eventually raised his bat to celebrate a well-deserved century in the third ODI.
Agha alongside Shaheen Afridi recorded a 50-run stand to help Pakistan dominate Bangladesh bowlers with runs coming in quickly.
However, Taskin Ahmed struck again to claim his fourth wicket, removing Salman Ali Agha, who had played a brilliant innings of 106 off 98 deliveries, including nine fours and four sixes, anchoring Pakistan’s response.
Shaheen Afridi tried to anchor the innings by hitting back-to-back sixes off Mustafizur Rahman’s penultimate over.
However, the bowler remained calm and struck again, claiming his third wicket by dismissing Haris Rauf for one, leaving Pakistan needing 14 runs from the final over.
Rishad surrendered the final over conceding just two runs, ending the match, with Shaheen Afridi bowing out on the last delivery after scoring 37 off 36 deliveries with two fours and two sixes, while Abrar did not face a delivery.
Tanzid Hasan received the Player of the Match award, while he and Nahid were jointly named Players of the Series.
Batting first, Bangladesh got off to a strong start as openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid set the tone. The runs flowed from the start, putting pressure on the Pakistani bowling attack early on.
The pair built a solid 50-run partnership, giving their side a comfortable platform as the visitors struggled to create early breakthroughs.
Tanzid had good touch with the bat, piled up runs and brought up his sixth ODI half-century, which also helped Bangladesh cross the 100-run mark.
Pakistan finally found the breakthrough when skipper Shaheen Shah dismissed Afridi Saif to end the opening stand of 105 runs. Saif contributed 36 off 55 balls, including three fours.
Tanzid then found support from Najmul Hossain Shanto, and the duo continued to build momentum with another 50-run partnership, taking the team past the 150-run mark.
Haris Rauf gave Pakistan the second breakthrough by dismissing Shanto for 27 off 34 deliveries, including three boundaries, to keep Bangladesh at 158-2 in 29.2 overs.
Unfazed by the wickets around him, Tanzid kept the scoreboard moving and eventually brought up his maiden ODI century, keeping Bangladesh in an impressive position.
However, his impressive innings came to an end when Abrar Ahmed removed him for 107 off 107 balls, an excellent knock with six fours and seven sixes, leaving Bangladesh at 194-3 in 36.2 overs.
In the closing stages of the innings, Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy batted exceptionally to form a 50-run partnership. Their steady scoring helped Bangladesh push the total past 250 in the 45th over, giving the hosts a strong platform heading into the final overs.
The 68-run partnership was eventually broken when Das was dismissed by Haris Rauf for 41 off 51 balls, including a four and a six, which gave Rauf his second wicket of the innings.
Rauf continued his fine spell and came close to a hat-trick, throwing Rishad Hossain for a duck with a superb inswinger to leave Bangladesh at 262-5 in 46.4 overs.
Bangladesh ended their innings with Towhid Hridoy unbeaten on 48 off 44 balls, including four boundaries, while Afif Hossain contributed five runs.
Faheem Ashraf bowled the final overs and conceded just eight runs as the hosts finished with a competitive total.
Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for the Green Shirts, claiming three wickets for 52 runs in 10 overs, while Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed bagged one wicket each.
