BAN VS PAK 2ND T20I

Right then, Bangladesh have sealed the series with this gritty win, and they now head into the third and final T20I with momentum on their side. Pakistan will look to salvage some pride and avoid a whitewash, while Bangladesh will eye a clean sweep. That final match will be played on Thursday, 24th July, again in Mirpur, with the first ball to be bowled at 12 pm GMT. Join us an hour early for all the build-up and pre-match insights. Until then, take care! CIAO!

The victorious captain of Bangladesh, LITTON DAS, on the back-to-back series wins for Bangladesh, says that he is happy as his team played really well. Details that having been forced to bat first on losing the toss, they did not bat well in the Powerplay, but Mahedi Hasan and Jaker Ali batted really well. Calls it amazing to watch. On the excellent middle-order batting, Das says that when he saw the wicket, it seemed like a 130-140 wicket. Praises the Mahedi-Jaker stand, and adds that at that stage, the feeling was that if the side could get somewhere close to 130, the bowlers could defend. And praises his bowlers too. On the possible taking of the foot from the throat in the latter stages of the game, Litton explains that when the ball was new, it was difficult to bat, but once it got old, it came onto the bat nicely. Admits that Bangladesh did not execute the plans and hence, the game went so deep. Ends by saying that this win is dedicated to the victims of the air crash on Monday and hopes that the injured recover soon.

Bangladesh's JAKER ALI HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, FOR HIS FANTASTIC 55 (48), which included 5 sixes. On his batting plan, Jaker says that having gone in early, it was quite difficult to bat. Adds that he just thought of playing normal cricket, but details that Mahedi Hasan took chances while he just supported him. On his selection of shots, Ali says that it is his plan to assess the situation, take the game deep and wait for the balls to arrive in his zone. On his bowlers picking up early wickets, JA agrees that Bangladesh's bowlers have done well in both matches. Calls this one a great game, sportingly saying that Pakistan also played hard cricket, but cheekily ends by saying that it is all about winning and losing and Bangladesh have the last laugh!

The skipper of Pakistan, SALMAN AGHA, on being asked about restricting Bangladesh to 133, thinks that the way Pakistan started bowling in the Powerplay, they could have given 10 runs less. Felt that a 130-ish target was chaseable but admits that the batting needs to improve in the Powerplay. On Ahmed Daniyal and Salman Mirza, Agha praises both for having bowled really well and also credits Daniyal for batting really well too, nearly taking the game away from Bangladesh. Calls the players as the ones for the future. On his side, recovering from 15/5, Salman admits that Pakistan need to bat better as a top order. However, he also adds that to bring the game so deep from that situation was really outstanding batting, especially from Faheem Ashraf. Details that he too nearly took the game away, but that's how cricket goes. On the match turning out to be a thriller, SA says that he didn't want to give up, no matter what. Calls the way his team turned things around from 15/5, is outstanding and stresses that this is the kind of belief that he wants in his team. Ends by saying that the game was everyone's money's worth.

Time for the Post-Match Presentations...

Earlier, Bangladesh were sent in to bat and didn’t have the smoothest of starts. Their top order struggled against some disciplined bowling from Pakistan, and they were reduced to 28 for 4 inside six overs. However, Jaker Ali stood tall in the middle, anchoring the innings with a gritty 55 off 48 balls. He found valuable support from Mahedi Hasan, who helped build a crucial partnership in the middle overs. The duo ensured that Bangladesh crossed the 130-mark, which ultimately turned out to be a winning total. Pakistan bowled well in patches, with Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal standing out, but they leaked too many in the final five overs, 47 runs to be precise, which cost them in the end.

Full credit goes to Bangladesh’s bowlers for their relentless accuracy and fight. Shoriful Islam struck twice in the Powerplay and later returned to claim the key wicket of Abbas Afridi, finishing with 3 for 17. Tanzim Hasan Sakib brought his own fire with a double blow in the fifth over that rattled Pakistan’s spine, picking up overall 2 wickets. Mahedi Hasan also shone with his two wickets, and created pressure with his tight lines, while Mustafizur showed his class again in the death overs, holding firm when the game was slipping. Even Rishad Hossain, despite going for runs, chipped in with an important wicket of Faheem. Bangladesh’s fielding was sharp when it mattered, with a run out and some timely stops, which helped their cause.

As the innings wore on, it was Faheem Ashraf who finally provided some resistance. He took his time early on but then played some bold strokes to lift Pakistan’s hopes. His knock of 51 off 32 balls gave the visitors a fair chance. He found some support from Abbas Afridi and Ahmed Daniyal, who played their parts with quick cameos. But wickets continued to fall, and just as Faheem looked set to finish the game, he fell in the 19th over with Pakistan still needing 13. That dismissal proved to be the final blow. The last-wicket pair couldn’t hold on, and Pakistan’s chase was wrapped up for 125, just short once again.

Chasing a target of 134, Pakistan began on the wrong foot and never quite recovered. A run out in the very first over summed up the panic in their camp. Saim Ayub’s early dismissal, followed by Mohammad Haris getting trapped LBW first ball, showed a lack of composure and game awareness. The collapse didn’t stop there, as Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Nawaz all fell in quick succession, reducing Pakistan to 15 for 5 inside the first five overs. The early damage was brutal, and while the pitch wasn’t the easiest to bat on, the lack of intent and poor shot selection from the top order only made matters worse. There was scoreboard pressure, rising required run-rate, and most worryingly, a clear absence of a fight from the frontline batters.

What a tense, gripping, and nerve-wracking finish this turned out to be! Bangladesh edge past Pakistan by just 8 runs in a thrilling low-scoring contest, sealing the three-match T20I series 2-0 with one game to go. It was a contest where bowlers from both sides had a say, but Bangladesh held their nerve better in crunch moments. Pakistan, despite a spirited lower-order fightback led by Faheem Ashraf, once again fell short due to a disappointing performance from their top order. Bangladesh, meanwhile, showed sharper instincts, better discipline, and remarkable composure under pressure, turning the game into a memorable win for their camp. With this win, they’ve taken the series.

OUT! CAUGHT AT DEEP MID WICKET! Mustafizur Rahman rolls his fingers over for an off cutter, deceiving the batter with a slower delivery at 117.5 kph. Daniyal, in an attempt to accelerate the innings, opts for an aggressive slog sweep. The contact is clean, the shot powered by strong frontfoot footwork, sending the ball soaring into the air. However, it's straight to Shamim Hossain at deep mid wicket, where he makes it look easy, clasping the ball with both hands. This dismissal ends a brief partnership and wraps up the innings for 125 all out in 19.2 overs. A strategic piece of bowling from Mustafizur, perfectly executed, and a crucial moment as the last wicket falls, signaling the end of the innings. BANGLADESH WIN BY 8 RUNS AND TAKE AN UNASSAILABLE 2-0 LEAD IN THE 3-MATCH SERIES!

OUT! CAUGHT AT DEEP MID WICKET! Mustafizur Rahman rolls his fingers over for an off cutter, deceiving the batter with a slower delivery at 117.5 kph. Daniyal, in an attempt to accelerate the innings, opts for an aggressive slog sweep. The contact is clean, the shot powered by strong frontfoot footwork, sending the ball soaring into the air. However, it's straight to Shamim Hossain at deep mid wicket, where he makes it look easy, clasping the ball with both hands. This dismissal ends a brief partnership and wraps up the innings for 125 all out in 19.2 overs. A strategic piece of bowling from Mustafizur, perfectly executed, and a crucial moment as the last wicket falls, signaling the end of the innings. BANGLADESH WIN BY 8 RUNS AND TAKE AN UNASSAILABLE 2-0 LEAD IN THE 3-MATCH SERIES!

FOUR! A crafty off cutter, significantly slower at 118.2 kph, deceives but doesn't deter. Ahmed Daniyal, with aggressive intent, steps into a powerful frontfoot slog. The ball, making good contact off the bat, sails aerially into the gap. Timing and placement impeccable, it races away for a boundary. This shot injects momentum into the innings, taking the score to 125/9 at 19.1 overs.

Where are we heading? All 3 results still possible. Pakistan win, Bangladesh win or even a Super Over! 13 needed in the final over with a solitary wicket. Will numbers 10 and 11 take the visiting side through? Salman Mirza walks out to bat at number 11, replacing Faheem Ashraf. Mustafizur Rahman to close things out. 3-0-11-0 so far.

OUT! BOWLED! Rishad Hossain with a masterful piece of leg spin at 93.4 kph, completely deceives the batter. Attempting a defensive shot on the front foot, the batter plays and misses, leaving the ball to do the damage. It's a sight for the bowler as the stumps are disturbed.

OUT! BOWLED! Rishad Hossain with a masterful piece of leg spin at 93.4 kph, completely deceives the batter. Attempting a defensive shot on the front foot, the batter plays and misses, leaving the ball to do the damage. It's a sight for the bowler as the stumps are disturbed.

SIX! What a magnificent strike that is! A leg spin delivery from the bowler, looping in at 86.1 kph, but it's met with sheer aggression. Ashraf steps into it, showcasing brilliant frontfoot footwork and executes a powerful slog sweep. The intent was clear, the contact was clean, and the timing impeccable. The ball takes an aerial trajectory, flying high and far, landing well beyond the ropes at wide long for a spectacular six. This brings the score to 121/8 at 18.5 overs, signaling a potential shift in momentum at this crucial stage of the match.