Lahore (Web Desk): Pakistan completed a flawless 3-0 victory in the T20I series against Bangladesh by winning the final game at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 197 runs, Pakistan had a shaky start as opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed cheaply, scoring just one run off four balls by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
However, the hosts soon regained control with a strong partnership between Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub. Both batsmen played aggressively, regularly hitting boundaries to help Pakistan reach 56 for 1 after six overs.
Haris and Ayub added 92 runs for the second wicket, displaying fluent and attacking stroke play as they pursued the challenging total.
The partnership was broken when Tanzim Hasan took Saim’s wicket for 45 runs off 29 balls, leaving Pakistan at 100 for 2 after 9.5 overs.
Despite this, Pakistan kept their chase steady with Haris anchoring the innings. He reached his first T20I half-century with the score at 115 for 2 after 11 overs.
Hasan Nawaz then contributed quick runs, including two boundaries, as Pakistan pushed to complete the series sweep. However, Mehidy Hasan struck again, dismissing Nawaz for 26 off 13 balls, reducing Pakistan to 137 for 3 in 12.5 overs.
Undaunted, Haris continued to dominate, striking boundaries and sixes with ease. His spectacular knock culminated in a century—the first of his T20I career—achieved in just 45 balls.
He remained unbeaten on 107 off 46 deliveries, including eight fours and seven sixes, while captain Agha added a quick 14 off 11 balls as Pakistan comfortably reached the target in 17.1 overs.
Batting first after winning the toss, Bangladesh’s openers started aggressively against Pakistan’s bowling. Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon forged a strong opening stand of 53 runs during the powerplay.
Emon was particularly explosive, scoring a rapid half-century off 27 balls, helping Bangladesh reach 80 without loss after eight overs.
The pair continued their strong batting to take the score to 100 for no loss by the 11th over, attacking Faheem Ashraf’s bowling with a string of boundaries.
Faheem finally broke the partnership by dismissing Tanzid Hasan, who scored 42 off 32 balls, featuring three boundaries and three sixes, with the score at 110 for 1 in 10.4 overs.
Shadab Khan soon claimed Parvez Hossain Emon’s wicket at 113 for 2 in 11.1 overs. Emon’s innings included 66 runs from 34 balls.
Bangladesh captain Litton Das joined Towhid Hridoy and both contributed useful runs. Hridoy played aggressively, while Das offered steady support, helping Bangladesh pass 150 in the 15th over.
Hasan Ali then dismissed Das for 22 runs off 18 balls, breaking the partnership at 162 for 3 in 16.3 overs.
Shamim Hossain impressed with consecutive boundaries off Hasan Ali, but Abbas Afridi quickly removed him for 8 runs off 4 balls, marking Abbas’s first wicket in the match. Bangladesh were 171 for 4 at 17.3 overs.
In the final overs, Jakeer Ali hit crucial boundaries off Faheem Ashraf to help Bangladesh post their highest-ever T20I total against Pakistan.
Hasan Ali returned for the final over and took his second wicket by dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 1, leaving Bangladesh at 184 for 6.
Jakeer Ali finished unbeaten on 15 off 9 balls, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib added 8 off 3 deliveries.
Teams:
Pakistan :
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed.
Bangladesh :
Liton Das (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Parvez Hossain, Zakir Ali (wicketkeeper), Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed.