Same old Bangladesh
Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 102 runs in the one-off Twenty20 international played at the National Stadium yesterday, the first-ever match of this kind staged in the country.
The defeat completed a miserable tour for the visitors after their 5-0 whitewash on Saturday in the preceding one-day series.
Chasing a target of 200-plus score, the Tigers were never in the hunt and apart from the opening stand of 41 runs between Tamim Iqbal, 23, and Nazimuddin, the rest of the batting was once again a display of insensitivity. The Tigers were bowled out for 101 in 16 overs.
Playing his first match of the tour Nazimuddin top-scored with a stroky 42. Captain Mohammad Ashraful was the only other batsman to have reached double figures with 13.
Earlier Misbahul Haq smashed a career-best 87 to lift Pakistan to a record 203-5 against Bangladesh.
The 33-year-old shared two important stands of 78 for the third wicket with Younis Khan (47) and 63 for the fourth wicket with captain Shoaib Malik (37) after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
Misbah hit five towering sixes and three boundaries off just 53 balls to build Pakistan's highest total in a Twenty20 international, beating 191-7 also against Bangladesh at Nairobi last year.
Pakistan, who blanked the visitors 5-0 in the preceding one-day series, lost openers Salman Butt (one) and Kamran Akmal (nought) in paceman Mashrafe Mortaza's first over but Misbah put the team back on track.
Butt was run out after he failed to regain his crease off the second ball, while Akmal was bowled off Mortaza's sixth delivery.
Younis matched Misbah stroke for stroke, hitting seven boundaries during his 28-ball knock before left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan caught him off his own bowling.
Malik upped the tempo as Pakistan made 90 off their first 10 overs. He hit two boundaries and three sixes before he was stumped off left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak.
Misbah lifted Razzak for a six over long-on to cross his previous highest Twenty20 score of 66 made against Australia.
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