Toothless Tigers surrender series
Bangladesh continued their dismal show with the bat as Pakistan clinched the three-match T20I series 2-0 with a game in hand after beating the visitors comprehensively by nine wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday.
The third and final match of the series will take place tomorrow at the same venue.
Chasing a modest target of 137, Pakistan rode on unbeaten fifties from skipper Babar Azam and the experienced Mohammad Hafeez to reach the target with 20 balls to spare as the Tigers helplessly surrendered to the home side.
Shafiul Islam dismissed opener Ahsan Ali for a duck but since in the second over, but since then Babar and Hafeez scored 66 and 67 respectively and made sure Pakistan cruise to the target as the pair added an unbeaten 131 for the second wicket.
Earlier, a hapless batting display from the Tigers once again put the visitors far behind the pace right from the start after skipper Mahmudullah Riyad elected to bat.
Compared to the wicket for the first match on Friday, yesterday’s strip at the Gaddafi Stadium was much more batting-friendly but the Bangladesh batters remained unable to get any momentum.
Bangladesh made one change in the playing eleven as all-rounder Mahedi Hasan replaced Mohammad Mithun, but it did little to change Bangladesh’s fortunes.
From the start, Bangladesh failed to get partnerships going. Opener Mohammad Naim was the first to depart for a golden duck while Mahedi too departed cheaply for nine after coming in at number three.
At the other end, Tamim remained watchful as he has been in the recent past and took his time to get going. But the pressure kept mounting as Bangladesh posted just 33 for the loss of two wickets in the Powerplay. Soon after, Liton Das too departed for eight to leave the Tigers struggling on 41 for three inside eight overs.
Afif Hossain then paired with Tamim and added 45 runs for the fourth wicket but Bangladesh never looked to charge the Pakistani bowlers at any point, and after the same approach in the first game, that has now become a big concern.
Afif was also dismissed after scoring 20 off 21 balls, after which Tamim reached his fifty off 43 balls with a cracking cover drive off leg-spinner Shadab Khan.
Tamim tried to accelerate and briefly succeeded, adding three more boundaries, but the left-hander was finally dismissed after scoring 65 off 53 balls with seven fours and a six in the 18th over, with Bangladesh still struggling on 117 for five.
The Tigers did manage to score 48 runs in the last five overs but it was nowhere near enough to save the series. Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain bagged two wickets while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Shadab took a wicket each for Pakistan.