Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 74 runs in third T20I

MIRPUR: Pakistan secured a consolation win as they defeated Bangladesh by 74 runs in the third T20I at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing 179, the hosts were bowled out for 104 in 16.4 overs as Pakistan avoided a whitewash in the three-match Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20I series.

Pacer Salman Mirza provided the tourists with the first breakthrough in the first over of the innings when he dismissed Tanzid Hasan for a duck.

Faheem Ashraf struck in his first over, dismissing Bangladesh skipper Litton Das on eight.

He then removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz (9) to leave the hosts reeling at 22/3 in 3.4 overs.

Salman Mirza dealt a critical blow to Bangladesh’s chase when he castled Jaker Ali (1) and Mahedi Hasan for a duck in the fifth over to reduce the hosts to 25/5 in 4.4 overs.

Shamim Hossain fell to Pakistan captain Salman Agha after scoring just five runs, while Mohammad Naim’s 10-run stay at the crease was ended by Ahmed Daniyal.

Mohammad Saifuddin and Nasum Ahmed then shared a 24-run stand to take Bangladesh to 65 before Ahmed fell to Hussain Talat after scoring nine runs.

Mohammad Nawaz then removed Taskin Ahmed (7) and Shoriful Islam (7) to wrap the hosts’ innings for 104.

For Pakistan, Salman Mirza picked up three wickets, while Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets each.

Ahmed Daniyal, Salman Agha and Hussain Talat chipped in with a wicket each.

Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan scored a fifty as Pakistan set a 179-run target for Bangladesh in the final T20I.

Being put to bat first, the tourists made 178/7 in their 20 overs, following a steady start from their opening pair in the third Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20I.

Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub provided the Men in Green with an 82-run stand until the latter fell to Nasum Ahmed in the ninth over.

The left-handed batter scored 21 off 15 balls.

Farhan was the next batter to fall after scoring 63 off 41 balls, with the help of six fours and five sixes.

Wicketkeeping batter Mohammad Haris managed to score just five runs before his dismissal, leaving his side at 115 for three in 13.3 overs.

Hasan Nawaz made 33 off 17 balls before he fell to Shoriful Islam in the 15th over, while Hussain Talat departed on one run.

Captain Salman Agha (12)* and Mohammad Nawaz (27) then stitched a 41-run stand to take Pakistan 173 in 19 overs.

Nawaz fell on the first ball of the ultimate over, while Faheem Ashraf could hit a four before he was dismissed on the third ball.

Agha remained unbeaten on 12 alongside Abbas Afridi (1)* as Pakistan finished at 178/7 in their 20 overs.

Bangladesh have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after defeating Pakistan in the first two games.

The hosts have made five changes to their Playing XI, bringing back Tanzid Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed for the third Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20I game.

They have rested Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman.

Pakistan have replaced Fakhar Zaman with Sahibzada Farhan, while Hussain Talat comes in place of Khushdil Shah for the third Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20I.

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Agha Salman (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal.

Bangladesh: Litton Das (c & wk), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Naim Sheikh, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain Patwary, Md Saifuddin, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Nasum Ahmed.