Hosts Bangladesh triumphed over Pakistan by 8 runs in the second match of the three-match T20 series, held at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. This thrilling contest gave Bangladesh a decisive 2-0 lead in the series.
Chasing a target of 134 runs, the Pakistani batting lineup struggled from the outset, with the top five batsmen contributing a mere 15 runs combined. Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, and Hassan Nawaz were all dismissed without scoring, while Saim Ayub managed only one run and Fakhar Zaman scored eight runs. Captain Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah attempted to stabilise the innings, scoring 9 and 13 runs respectively. However, with Pakistan at 47 for 7, their defeat seemed inevitable.
At this critical moment, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and young fast bowler Abbas Afridi injected some life into the match, forming a crucial partnership of 41 runs for the eighth wicket. Abbas was dismissed after scoring 19 runs, but Faheem Ashraf kept the hope of victory alive with a brave innings of 51 runs. Ahmed Daniyal, making his T20 International debut, also contributed positively with 17 runs off 11 balls. Nonetheless, Pakistan was bowled out for 125 runs in the final overs of the match.
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam was the standout performer, taking three wickets, while Tanzeem Hasan and Mehidy Hasan each claimed two wickets. Mustafizur Rahman and Rashad Hossain contributed with one wicket each.
Earlier, Bangladesh chose to bat first after losing the toss and scored 133 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Jakir Ali top-scored with 55 runs, and Mehidy Hasan added 33 runs, providing a defendable total for their team. Eight Bangladeshi players failed to reach double figures.
Ahmed Daniyal not only made his debut memorable with two wickets but also showed resilience with the bat. Despite his efforts, Pakistan faced defeat.
Jakir Ali was awarded the Man of the Match title for his match-winning innings of 55 runs. With this victory, Bangladesh has secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
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