Bangladesh Beat Pakistan by 11 Runs to Win ODI Series 2-1 in Thriller
After two one-sided matches, the final game was full of tension and excitement. In the end, Bangladesh stayed calm and beat Pakistan by 11 runs to win the three-match series 2-1. This game was gone for all money, but Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi pulled it back and dragged it to the very end, only to land on the wrong end of the result.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first. But things didn't go as planned for the tourists, with Bangladesh adding 105 runs for the first wicket. Openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan Tamim were going all guns blazing before Shaheen broke the partnership by dismissing Saif on 36. Tanzid kept going and scored his maiden ODI century, hitting a run-a-ball 107. He was nicely supported by Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das. Both the number 3 and 4 batters got starts but didn't go on to make big impacts. Shanto scored 27 off 34 balls, while Das hit 41 off 51 balls.
Das and Towhid Hridoy added a fifty-plus stand, with the latter remaining unbeaten on a 44-ball 48. Pakistan pulled things back at the back end, but still, the Tigers managed to post 290/5 in 50 overs. For Pakistan, Rauf was the successful bowler, finishing with 3/52, while Shaheen and Abrar Ahmed picked up a wicket each. Bangladesh's new ball bowlers destroyed Pakistan's top order into pieces, with Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana bowling thunderbolts, reducing the visitors to 17/3 inside 3 overs.
Bangladesh hold their nerve to beat Pakistan by 11 runs and seal the series 2-1
Ghazi Ghori and Abdul Samad tried to rebuild with a fifty-run stand, but both the set batters were dismissed in quick succession. Pakistan were in all sorts of trouble at 82/5, before Salman Ali Agha took the responsibility and rebuilt the sinking ship with a 79-run partnership alongside Saad Masood. When things looked like going in favour of Pakistan, Masood (38 off 44) lost his concentration and poles, with Mustafizur Rahman providing Bangladesh with a breakthrough.
Agha kept fighting and got support from Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi, adding partnerships of 48 and 52, respectively and scoring his 3rd ODI ton. His 106 off 98 balls kept the required run rate within reach as the game went down to the wire. Taskin Ahmed got rid of the centurion in the 48th ball, but Shaheen hit a couple of maximums in the 49th over, taking the game to the last over.
Pakistan need 14 off the last 6 balls, with Rishad Hossain having to bowl despite being expensive all evening. Rishad held his nerve and didn't allow the Pakistan captain to hit the boundaries. There was a bit of drama when Kumar Dharmasena gave the 5th ball wide, before the hosts reviewed it smartly, appealing for an lbw and got the decision overturned with UltraEdge showing a spike. Taskin finished with a match-winning spell of 4/49, while Fizz, despite injuring his left knee, bowled his heart out to end with 3/54. Nahid picked up 2 wickets, while Rishad dismissed Shaheen on the last ball of the series.