Bangladesh concede 9-wkt defeat; lose series to Pakistan
Another poor batting and bowling show handed Bangladesh a nine-wicket defeat in the 2nd game of the three-match T20I series against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday.
With this win, Pakistan sealed the series with one match to play on January 27 at the same venue, reports UNB.
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first as they did in the first match. The remaining things were also the same as Bangladesh posted a poor total of 136 for six in 20 overs, and Pakistan chased it down (137 in 16.4 overs) with nine wickets in hand.
Shafiul Islam took an early wicket removing Ahsan Ali for a duck which hinted that Bangladesh could fight in spite of a petty total on the board. But they failed to prove that. Bowlers seemed to be unaware of how to bowl to offer a real challenge to the second-wicket pair of Pakistan comprised of Babar Azam and veteran Mohammad Hafeez.
The pair added not out 131 runs in the second wicket partnership to register the victory.
Both Babar and Hafeez remained unbeaten hitting a fifty each (66 for 44 with seven fours and one six and 67 off 49 with nine fours and one six respectively).
Earlier, Bangladesh posted only 136 runs for six wickets in 20 overs in the second match of the three-match series. Tamim Iqbal scored 65 but other batsmen failed to make any substantial contribution to the total. They were all at sea against the disciplined Pakistani pace attack and the Bangladesh middle-order failed to fire once again.
Tigers were deprived of a decent start as opener Mohammad Naim was sent back for a golden duck in the first ball of the second over.
Bangladesh lost another wicket inside the powerplay as Mahedi Hasan who replaced Mohammad Mithun for this match was dismissed with only 22 runs on the board.
The tourists’ batting woes in the powerplay continued in the second match as well as they could not up the ante when required.
Mahedi showed a glimpse of his talent when he smashed a six of Imad Wasim in the third over but failed to continue the good form that accompanied him during the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and was dismissed for nine runs by Mohammad Hasnain. Tamim Iqbal was fortunate to survive a chance in the same over as Pakistan wicketkeeper missed an inside edge. Liton Das could only score eight runs from 14 balls in the game.
The fourth-wicket partnership between Tamim and Afif Hossain added 45 runs and resurrected the innings to some extent. Unfortunately for the tourists, Afif was sent back after scoring 21 from 20 balls with one four and one six in his knock.
At the end of 15 overs, Bangladesh were struggling at 88 for four. In the last five overs, the Tigers managed to score 48 runs losing two more wickets.
Bangladesh could have reached a higher total had Tamim not dismissed in the 18th over after scoring 65 from 53 balls with seven fours and a solitary six to his name.
Mahmudullah also had a miserable time with the willow. He just posted 12 from 12 balls before getting out in the last over bowled by Haris Rauf. The Tigers ended on 136 for six, which is now the lowest T20I total at the venue.
Mohammad Hasnain bagged two wickets conceding 20 runs in four overs while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Haris took one wicket each.
The final match of the series will take place on January 27 at the same venue.
After that, the Tigers will return home and go to Pakistan again to play a Test starting from February 7 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.
