Haris hits unbeaten ton as Pakistan whitewash Bangladesh T20I series

LAHORE: Mohammad Haris hit an unbeaten ton as Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the third and final game of the PAK vs BAN T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing 197, Pakistan achieved the target in 17.1 overs, with seven wickets in hand and 16 balls to spare.

With the victory in the final game, Pakistan completed a dominant 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match PAK vs BAN T20I series.

Pakistan faced a setback in the first over when Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz on just one run.

Mohammad Haris then joined with Saim Ayub, and the duo took the chase on with a 92-run partnership.

The left-handed batter was dismissed after scoring 45 off 29 balls, leaving Pakistan at 100/2 in 9.5 overs.

Following his dismissal, Hasan Nawaz arrived at the crease to join Mohammad Haris, who completed his fifty in just 25 balls.

Nawaz fell to Miraz after a quick 13-ball 26, bringing skipper Salman Agha to the crease.

With less than 10 runs needed to win the game, Mohammad Haris completed his maiden ton on just 45 balls.

Haris remained unbeaten on 107 off 46 balls alongside Agha Salman (15) as Pakistan chased down the 197-run target in 17.1 overs, with seven wickets in hand.

Earlier, Parvez Hossain Emon scored a quick fifty as Bangladesh set a 197-run target for the hosts.

Emon opened the inning with Tanzid Hasan after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first in the final game.

The opening pair gave a flying start to the visitors, shared a 110-run stand in just 10.3 overs.

The partnership ended when Faheem Ashraf removed Hasan on 42 off 32 balls.

Parvez Hossain Emon followed him in the following over, having made 66 off 34 balls with the help of seven fours and four sixes.

Bangladesh captain Litton Das (22) and Towhid Haridoy (25) then joined hands for a 49-run stand, before Das was castled by Hasan Ali, with the scoreboard showing 162/3 in 16.3 overs.

Shamim Hossain made eight before falling in the 18th over to Abbas Afridi, who also dismissed Haridoy in the same over.

Hasan Ali then removed Mehdi Hasan Miraz (1) in the following over to leave Bangladesh at 184/6 in 19.1 overs.

Jaker Ali remained unbeaten on 15 alongside Tanzim Hasan Shakib (8)* as the visitors finished at 196/6 in their 20 overs.

For Pakistan, Hasan Ali and Abbas Afridi picked couple of wickets each, while Faheem Ashraf and Shadab Khan chipped in with a wicket each.

Pakistan captain Salman Agha revealed that the hosts brought in Abbas Afridi to give rest to pacer Haris Rauf.

Khaled Ahmed replaces Shoriful Islam in the Bangladesh squad after suffering an injury in the previous game.

Pakistan have an unassailable 2-0 lead over Bangladesh in the three-match series, having won the first two games at the same venue.

It is worth noting here that Bangladesh’s ongoing tour to Pakistan witnessed two reschedulings.

The side was first scheduled to play three T20Is and two ODIs, however, the cricket board from both countries replaced the PAK vs BAN ODIs with two additional T20Is.

Later, the series was reduced to three matches at the Gaddafi Stadium.