Jaker-Mahedi and Shoriful-Tanzim give Bangladesh first T20I series win against Pakistan
Chasing 134, Ashraf took Pakistan close from a treacherous position of 15 for 5 but it wasn't enough
Chasing 134, Ashraf took Pakistan close from a treacherous position of 15 for 5 but it wasn't enough
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Rashad Mahbub
Series sealed! Bangladesh takes it 2-0, with one match remaining. That wraps up today's coverage. Thanks for tuning in! Rashad, Danyal, and Sudeep are signing off. Goodnight!
Litton Das: "My team played really well. At that moment when we lost the toss, we batted. We did not bat well in the power play and lost a couple of wickets. But that way Shak Mahedi and Jaker batted. It's amazing to watch. When we see the wicket, it looks like 130-140, wicket. So we all know anything above 130 we can defend. They batted really well. Bowlers also bowled very well in those 10 to 12 overs. When the ball was new, it was more difficult to bat on this pitch. When the ball was a little bit wet, this came easily to the bat. But after 12 overs, we didn't execute our plan and couple of mistakes in the field. So, that costs a little bit. That's why the game was deeper as well. We know the event that happened yesterday was a heartbreaking moment for all the Bangladeshis. This series win is fully dedicated to the victims and to their families. We know that we can't fill up the void of the lives that were lost, but at least from our side, this series is dedicated to them."
Player of the Match, Jaker Ali: "We're losing early wickets. And I just talked to Shak; just play normal cricket, but he takes chances, and I just try to support him. This is my plan for the situation. I just try to take the game deep and wait for my zone balls. Bowlers are doing exceptionally well throughout the series, so they are doing really good work for us, and that's a great game today. And Pakistan also played really well. They played hard cricket, but it's all about winning and losing, and we had the last laugh."
Salman Agha: "The way we started bowling in the power play, we could have gotten like 10 fewer runs, but that's the way cricket goes. But 130 was what we thought we had under control, but the way we batted in the power play, I think that needs to be improved. [Daniyal and Salman] They both bowled really well. Salman bowled really well in both games, and then Daniyal came in this game and bowled outstandingly well. And he batted really well as well. He almost took the game away from them, but yeah, they are one for the future. We want to bat well as a top order, and this is something we need to look at. And then, 15-5, and then bringing that game to that deep is just outstanding. The way Faheem batted. I think it's outstandingly well; he almost took the game away from them, but that's how cricket goes. But yeah, hats off to him for the way he batted. [Thriller for the crowd] That's what we are as a team. We don't want to give up. This is what we are bringing to this team. We don't want to give up no matter what situation we are in. We always think we can win the game. And that belief is in our team now, and the way we played after, like, 15-5, I think, is outstanding. This is the kind of belief I want from my team, and yeah, it's a thriller, and I think you can say that it's worth the money for this game to watch it."
9:53 pm What a game! It was another low-scoring nail-biter that, for most of it, seemed pretty one-sided. And guess what? We saw another dramatic batting collapse in the Powerplay. This time, the first wicket wasn't the pitch's fault; it was due to a huge mix-up between the batters, sending Saim back to the pavilion. Then, in the very next over, Haris was caught plumb in front by a fantastic delivery from Shoriful. Fakhar then practically gave his wicket away on a short ball down the leg side - usually, he'd smash that for six! Things got worse as Tanzim Sakib picked up two wickets in two balls, both caught behind, thanks to some extra bounce he was getting from the pitch. Bangladesh's seam bowlers were on fire with the new ball, giving Pakistan's batters no room to breathe or settle in early on. Just when it looked bleak for Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf and Abbas Afridi brought some hope, putting together a crucial 41-run partnership from just 28 balls. Faheem Ashraf continued to fight, smashing his maiden T20I fifty, and Daniyal also played a useful quickfire innings down the order. But in the end, Bangladesh managed to keep their cool and secure the win. Shoriful led the charge with three wickets, while Mahedi and Tanzim each bagged two.
CoachSanjay: "Is this Bangladesh's first ever T20I series win vs Pakistan?" Their second T20I series win against Pakistan. First one was a one-off match in 2015.
nologic: "Faheem has given a hard time to Mike Hesson, he would've really liked to blame the pitch."
Bangladesh won by 8 runs
Ahmed Daniyal c Shamim Hossain b Mustafizur Rahman 17 (18m 11b 3x4 0x6) SR: 154.54
The Fizz to bowl the last over. The crowd is chanting Bangladesh and whistling. What an atmosphere at Mirpur now! 13 needed from 6.
Faheem Ashraf b Rishad Hossain 51 (53m 32b 4x4 4x6) SR: 159.37
Jaker Ali explains how Litton Das' message to target a lower score than originally planned helped him plan his innings in the second T20I against Pakistan
Chasing 134, Ashraf took Pakistan close from a treacherous position of 15 for 5 but it wasn't enough
With the series on the line, the hosts go in as favourites with their bowling attack firing as a unit