Mirpur: Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 11 runs to clinch the three-match series 2-1 in the third and final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 291, the Green Shirts were bowled out for 279 in the allotted 50 overs.
Taskin Ahmed struck on the fifth ball of the first over as he dismissed Sahibzada Farhan for a six off five balls after hitting a boundary.
With Pakistan reeling at 12-2 in 1.5 overs and scoring six runs, including a six off five balls, Maas sat down to the next batsman as Nahid Rana dismissed him with a bouncer.
Taskin struck another blow for Pakistan when he beat the stumps off Mohammad Rizwan’s delivery. Rizwan hits a boundary in as many balls.
Opener Ghazi Ghori and Abdul Samad steadied the innings, putting on a 50-run partnership to take the team’s total past 50 runs.
Pakistan were reduced to 67-4 when Nahid Rana was dismissed on the final delivery of the 14th over to get out after scoring 29 runs off 39 balls, including three fours and a six.
Pakistan felt further pressure when set batsman Abdul Samad was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman after scoring 34 off 45 balls which included 5 fours.
Salman Ali Agha and debutant Saad Masood looked to rebuild the innings, adding some crucial runs and easing the pressure after an early setback, taking Pakistan’s total past 100 in the 21st over.
The duo then looked to rebuild the innings, rotating the strike well and scoring at a steady pace to ease the pressure after early setbacks.
They played smartly and flowed in runs, putting Bangladesh’s bowling under pressure while bringing up a valuable 50-run partnership.
However, at 161-6 in 31.2 overs, the 79-run stand was broken after the dismissal of Mustafizur Rahman’s blistering 38 off 44 balls.
Salman Ali Agha was in good touch with the bat for Pakistan, keeping the scoreboard ticking with confident strokeplay.
The right-hander brought up his 10th ODI half-century during the innings, raising his bat amid Pakistan’s batting struggles and providing some resistance.
However, Pakistan ran into further trouble with the loss of the seventh wicket when Taskin Ahmed struck again to dismiss Baheem Ashraf for nine off 20 balls.
Salman Ali Agha led a valiant fightback for the Green team, showing no composure as he steadily piled on runs and eventually raised his bat to celebrate a well-deserved century in the third ODI.
Agha, along with Shaheen Afridi, scored 50 runs to help Pakistan dominate the Bangladesh bowlers.
However, Taskin Ahmed struck again to claim his fourth wicket, spearheading Pakistan’s reply with a 98-ball 106 off Salman Ali Agha, including 9 fours and 4 sixes.
Shaheen Afridi tried to anchor the innings by hitting back-to-back sixes off Mustafizur Rahman’s second-to-last over.
However, the bowler calmed down and struck again, Harris dismissed Raub for one run to claim his third wicket, leaving Pakistan needing 14 runs off the final over.
Rishad bowled the final over and conceded just two runs, Shaheen Afridi scored 37 off 38 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes, Abrar didn’t face a delivery.
Taskin was Bangladesh’s best bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 4/49 from his 10 overs.
Mustafizur claimed three wickets, Nahid claimed two wickets while Rishad added one more as Bangladesh dominated Pakistan’s batting line-up.
Batting first, Bangladesh openers Saif Hasan and Tansit Hasan got off to a good start. Runs flowed freely from the start and Pakistan’s bowling put the early pressure on the attack.
The pair put together a solid 50-run partnership, giving their side a comfortable platform as the visitors struggled to make early breakthroughs.
Danzid connected well with the bat, piled on the runs and scored his sixth ODI half-century, which helped Bangladesh cross the 100-run mark.
Pakistan finally saw the breakthrough when captain Shaheen Shah Afridi ended the opening stand on 105 runs, dismissing Saif. Saif scored 36 runs off 55 balls including 3 fours.
Danzid then found support from Najmul Hossain Shando and the duo continued to build momentum with a 50-run partnership that took the team past 150.
Bangladesh were 158-2 in 29.2 overs with 27 runs from 34 balls including 3 fours before Haris Rauf dismissed Shanto to give Pakistan their second breakthrough.
Unfazed by the wickets around him, Danzith kept the scoreboard moving and eventually brought up his maiden ODI century, keeping Bangladesh in a commanding position.
However, Abrar Ahmed’s brilliant innings came to an end when he smashed 107 off 107 balls with 6 fours and 7 sixes to leave Bangladesh at 194-3 in 36.2 overs.
In the final phase of the innings, Liton Das and Davhit Hiridoi batted exceptionally and put on a 50-run partnership. Their steady scores took Bangladesh past 250 in the 45th over.
The 68-run partnership was finally broken when Das was dismissed by Haris Rauf after scoring 41 runs off 51 balls, including a four and a six.
Rauf continued his fine form and came close to a hat-trick, ducking Rishad Hossain with a superb inswinger as Bangladesh were bowled out for 262-5 in 46.4 overs.
Bangladesh finished their innings unbeaten on 48 off 44 balls with 4 fours from Dawhit Hiridoi, while Afif Hossain contributed 5 runs.
Faheem Ashraf bowled the final overs, conceding just 8 runs.
Haris Rauf took 3 wickets for 52 runs in 10 overs and Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed took one wicket each for the green shirts.