Pakistan win final over thriller to whitewash Bangladesh

A dot, three wickets, a six, a four and the batter shouldering his arms and the bowler following it up with a last-minute pull-out in the very next delivery -- this is how the final over of the game between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur panned out.

But despite all the drama, Pakistan were able to clinch a five-wicket victory against the Tigers in their third and final T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today. And with this win, Pakistan also whitewashed the Tigers in the three-match series. 

After posting a modest total of 124 for seven, Bangladesh took the game right down the wire as Pakistan were only able to seal a victory with a boundary in the final delivery of the innings despite being in control for the most part of their chase. 

With Pakistan needing eight from the final over, Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad stepped up to do the tricky job. Mahmudullah started off with a dot as Sarfaraz Ahmed failed to connect an attempted sweep. The dot was welcomed with a huge cheer from the fans for the home side. 

Mahmudullah removed Sarfaraz and set batter Haider Ali in the next two deliveries as both the batters were caught in the outfield after trying to go for maximums. 

But the Tigers' skipper was hit for a maximum by Iftikhar Ahmed in the very next delivery and it seemed as if Pakistan would now easily go on to win the game with two needed off two deliveries. However, proving everyone wrong, Mahmudullah removed Iftikhar in the penultimate delivery as the batter sliced a ball up to the backward point for an easy catch. 

More drama were in store before the final delivery as the new batter in Mohammad Nawaz first shouldered his arms after Mahmudullah bowled from way behind the umpire. Mahmudullah kept the drama alive by following it up with a last-minute pull-out as he ran in to deliver the final delivery.

However, Nawaz struck a boundary in the final delivery and helped Pakistan seal another victory. 

Earlier, Pakistan looked to be in control of the chase for the most part of the game as both Mohammad Rizwan (40 off 43) and Haider (45 off 45) scored in the forties. 

After bowling such a dramatic final over, skipper Mahmudullah turned out to be the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh as he finished with figures of three for 10 in one over. 

Before that, Mohammad Naim scored a slow and questionable 50-ball 47 that saw the Tigers manage a modest total.   

Pakistan closing in on another victory

Pakistan are closing in on another victory with Mohammad Rizwan and Haider Ali forming a solid stand between them against Bangladesh in their third T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

Chasing a modest 125-run target, Pakistan scored 66 for one after 13 overs. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was the only one to fall when his attempted slog off the bowling of leg-spinner Aminul Islam found the hands of Mohammad Naim at cow corner in the seventh over. 

However, Haider Ali and Mohammad Rizwan kept the scoreboard ticking since then, helping Pakistans slowly edge closer to another victory.  

Pacer Taskin Ahmed looks in pain before leaving the field. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Taskin leaves field after attempting to stop Rizwan's powerful drive

Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed left the field after trying to stop Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan's drive off his own delivery in the final over of the Powerplay in the two sides' third and final T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

The incident occurred in the first delivery of the sixth over when Rizwan struck a length delivery right at Taskin, who tried to stop it with his hands and looked to be in pain immediately. Bangladesh physio Julian Calefato attended the pacer for a while on the field before leaving the ground with him. 

With Taskin out of the ground, debutant pacer Shohidul Islam completed the final five deliveries of the over as Pakistan scored 28 without any loss after the Powerplay. 

Both Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam have had little to no trouble in the initial overs as they are cruising along comfortably towards Bangladesh's modest total of 124 for seven.