Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed picked up a career-best 3-19 to seal Pakistan’s series-sealing victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I between the two sides at Lahore on Friday (May 30).
Both sides made one change. For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan replaced Fakhar Zaman, who was unfit, while Bangladesh brought in Mehidy Hasan Miraz instead of Mahedi Hasan.
Rewarded with a spot for his stellar T20 form – first in the National Cup and then in the PSL – Sahibzada gave Pakistan a solid start after they elected to bat first. He smashed 74 off 41, stitching together a 103-run stand for the third wicket with wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris, who struck a brisk 41 off 25. Hasan Nawaz, who put an end to his feast-or-famine start in T20Is after a 22-ball 44 from No. 5 in the series opener, shone again. He scored an unbeaten 26-ball 51, laced with three sixes and two fours, propelling Pakistan to 201-6.
This marks the first time in seven years that Pakistan have posted two successive 200-plus totals, having scored 201-7 in the series opener. The previous instance came during a home series against the West Indies in April 2018, when they notched 203-5 and 205-3 on back-to-back days.
Abrar dismantles Bangladesh's middle order
Bangladesh were off to a flyer, with opener Tanzid Hasan taking 17 runs off the first over. He kept the pressure on Hassan Ali, who was hit for 15 in the second over. Haris Rauf then drew first blood for Pakistan, dismissing Parvez Hossain Emon for eight off the penultimate ball of the fourth over. Then Faheem Ashraf removed Tanzid for a 19-ball 33 in the next over. Bangladesh scored 54-3 in the powerplay, with captain Litton Das (6) being the last batter dismissed by Hassan Ali.
Abrar, bowling his first over, spun one sharply through Towhid Hridoy, trapping him lbw for five. Off the very next ball, he struck again – this time dismissing Bangladesh’s in-form batter Jaker Ali with a deceptive googly, also lbw. Shamim Hossain survived the hat-trick ball but fell in the following over, edging a catch to Saim Ayub at mid-wicket for seven. Bangladesh slumped to 70-6.
2nd T20I, Pakistan vs Bangladesh
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A defiant 31-ball 50 from No. 9 Tanzim Hasan Sakib lent some respectability to Bangladesh’s innings, but it wasn’t enough as they were bowled out for 144 in 19 overs, succumbing to a 57-run defeat.
Abrar’s 3-19 off four overs are now his best T20I figures in his 12-match career so far. His previous best was 3-28 off 3.3 overs against Zimbabwe in December last year in Bulawayo.
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