Maaz Sadaqat looked a cut above the rest on that Mirpur pitch as he stood up when it was needed for Pakistan. Maaz Sadaqat seemed to be batting on a different pitch compared to his teammates and had he stayed a bit more, Pakistan would have got past 300. Salman Ali Agha played well for his 64 off 62 balls while Mohammad Rizwan looked good for his 44 while Farhan looked scratchy for his 31.
But the hosts Bangladesh did well after the opening powerplay to claw their way back in the match and kept Pakistan down to 274 with Rishad Hossain picking up 3 wickets and Mehidy Hasan Miraz the captain picking up 2 wickets with miserly figures. Still, 275 will be a daunting target for Bangladesh and they have to bat well to get over the fiery Pakistan bowling line-up which has a new addition in Haris Rauf.
Maaz Sadaqat’s blazing half-century gives Pakistan a rollicking start in the powerplay.Â
Put into bat first, Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat opened the batting for Pakistan while Taskin Ahmed had ball in hand for Bangladesh. Farhan and Pakistan were underway with a boundary with a flick to deep midwicket region. Mustafizur Rahman came into the attack next and was welcomed by Sadaqat with a boundary through covers as he leaned into the drive. Sadaqat went away as he leaned into the drive in front of square for another boundary.
Taskin continued as Sadaqat went bang with a swivel pull over deep backward square leg off a short ball for the maximum as the bowler overstepped as well. The Free hit yielded a couple of runs. Sadaqat then took on Taskin as he shuffled across towards off-stump and whipped it over deep midwicket for the maximum. Rahman continued as Sadaqat swung hard and got the thick outside edge that flew towards deep third man for a boundary.
Nahid Rana came into the attack next. Sadaqat was in the mood today as he smashed the full ball down the ground over long-on for the maximum. Rahman continued and bowled a decent over. Rana continued and thought he had his man dismissing Farhan. But the batter reviewed and got the decision overturned in his favour as the ball was missing the stumps. The 50 came up for Pakistan in 6.4 overs.
Taskin came back into the attack and burnt a caught behind appeal against Sadaqat as the ball missed everything. Review was lost. Sadaqat took on the bowler and smashed downtown over long-on for the maximum. Rana continued as Sadaqat reached his half-century off 31 balls with pull over deep midwicket for a boundary. It was his maiden ODI fifty. Sadaqat took on Rana and helped it on its way over deep fine leg for the maximum. Rana gifted 5 wides as a bonus to the batting side before Farhan joined in the fun with a drive through covers for a boundary.
Mustafizur returned to bowl the last over of powerplay as Sadaqat drove him elegantly behind point for a boundary. At the completion of 10 overs of powerplay, Pakistan were flying high at 85/0 with Sadaqat unbeaten on 63 off 35 balls and Farhan unbeaten on 15 off 26 balls.
Bangladesh strike thrice to peg things back a little bit post powerplay till halfway stage of the innings.Â
Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz came into the attack post the powerplay. Sadaqat was in his zone as he rocked back and cut the ball past deep third man for a boundary. Mustafizur Rahman continued as Sadaqat slapped it to deep extra covers and got a triple thanks to good running between the wickets. Miraz continued as the 100 came up for Pakistan in 12.2 overs and of the partnership as well.
Miraz finally broke through as he removed Sadaqat for blazing 75 off 46 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes to his name as he tried to scoop the ball and got it off the toe end of the bat as the ball lobbed to Litton Das who made no mistake. Shamyl Hussain came out to bat next as Drinks was taken at this juncture. Taskin Ahmed came back into the attack. He bowled a decent over. Miraz too bowled a tight over as well.
Taskin continued and bowled a decent over. Miraz followed that up with a miserly over. Taskin then got his first wicket as he removed Farhan for 31 off 46 balls with 2 fours to his name as the batter swung hard to go over mid-off but ended up slicing it towards deep third man as Hridoy in the deep ran in and took a diving catch inches from the ground. Mohammad Rizwan came out to bat next.
Miraz continued and bowled a maiden over to Hussain. Nahid Rana returned to the bowling crease and dismissed Hussain for 6 off 22 balls as the short delivery banged in was taken on by Hussain as he pulled it away and got hurried by the pace and bounce and the top edge ballooned to deep third man where the Fizz took the catch easily. Salman Ali Agha came out to bat next and got off the mark while Rizwan survived a stifled LBW appeal.
Rishad Hossain came into the attack next and bowled a decent first over. Rana continued as Rizwan broke the shackles as the ball was aimed at the pads which he flicked it away to deep midwicket for a boundary. Rishad continued and bowled another tight over. Rana continued as Salman got a streaky boundary away as the batter drive without any feet movement and the outside edge flew away to the deep backward point fence.
Rishad continued to bowl the 25th over of the innings and bowled a googly shorter in length that sat up for the batter. Salman went deep in his crease and pulled it away over deep midwicket for a flat maximum. At the halfway stage of the innings, Pakistan were 147/3 with Rizwan unbeaten on 8 off 20 balls and Salman Ali Agha unbeaten on 18 off 17 balls.
Salman Ali Agha & Mohammad Rizwan drives Pakistan forward; but both fall in quick succession to leave the match in balance with 10 overs to go.Â
Nahid Rana continued and bowled a quiet over. Rishad Hossain continued and bowled on middle and leg stump, Agha hung back and tickled it away past fine leg for a boundary. Afif Hossain came into the attack now. Rizwan feasted on the short and wide ball outside off-stump and slapped it away past extra cover for a boundary. Mehidy Hasan Miraz came back into the attack next and bowled a maiden over. Drinks came on the field with the score at 163/3 in 29 overs.
Rishad Hossain came back into the attack after the break and bowled another short ball. Rizwan rocked back and pulled it away to the left of short fine leg for a boundary. Miraz continued as Salman connected the ball as he got down on one knee and swept it over backward square leg for a boundary. The 50-run stand came up between the two batters. Mustafzur came back into the attack and bowled a decent over.
Rishad continued as Agha used his feet and lofted it over mid-on for a boundary. Salman then got to the pitch of the ball and drove it hard to the deep point region for a boundary. Rahman continued as the 200 came up for Pakistan in 33.4 overs as Salman hit Mustafizur as he took the aerial route and cleared mid-off for a boundary. Mehidy Hasan Miraz came back into the attack and bowled a tight over.
Taskin Ahmed returned to the attack as Salman got to his 9th ODI fifty off 50 balls. Rizwan pounced on the short and wide ball outside the off-stump as he got on top of it and cut it to deep point region for a boundary. Miraz continued and bowled another tight over. Taskin continued as Agha flicked him away high and handsome over deep backward square leg for the maximum. Taskin bowled too full and in the slot as Agha lofted it down the ground wide of mid-off for a boundary. The 100-run stand came up between the two players.
Rizwan then pulled Taskin into the gap and away to the deep backward square leg fence for a boundary. Miraz continued and against the run of play, Agha was run out for 64 off 62 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes to his name. There was some controversy involved in the dismissal, but the decision stood. Hussain Talat came to the crease next. Miraz then got another as he dismissed Rizwan for 44 off 59 balls with 5 fours to his name with the batter going for an ugly hoick and got the top edge that went to deep midwicket where Rishad took the catch. Abdul Samad came out to bat next.
Nahid Rana came to bowl the 40th of the innings and bowled a decent over as Pakistan reached 235/5 in 40 overs with Talat unbeaten on 2 and Samad unbeaten on 2 as well as we were now set for the end overs.
Bangladesh hit back by bowling Pakistan out for 274 in 47.3 overs.Â
Rishad Hossain came back into the attack as Talat reverse swept him past diving short third man for a boundary. Nahid Rana continued as Samad went bang over deep backward square leg for the maximum. Rishad hit back as he knocked over Talat for 9 off 13 balls with one four to his name as the slog sweep was missed and the ball cannoned into the stumps. Faheem Ashraf came to the crease next and got off the mark as well. Big mix-up in the middle followed and resulted in Samad being run out for 11 off 7 balls with one six to his name.
Captain Shaheen Afridi came to the crease next as Faheem hit a boundary with a cut past Taskin at short third man. Rana continued and bowled a tight over to finish his spell. Mustafizur bowled a tight over as well with Pakistan reaching 262/7 in 45 overs. Rishad then removed the captain Afridi for 3 off 9 balls as the southpaw got down on one knee and tried to go over deep midwicket and got a top edge from where Afif settled underneath it and took a good catch.
Mohammad Wasim Jnr came to the crease next. Mustafizur continued as Faheem swivel pulled the ball to deep backward square leg for a welcome boundary. But the bowler had the last laugh as the Fizz removed Faheem for 14 off 15 balls with 2 fours to his name as he closed the face of the bat too early and got a leading edge straight to short cover where Soumya Sarkar made no mistake. Haris Rauf came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway.
Rishad came to bowl his final over and dismissed Wasim Jnr for 1 off 4 balls as he went for the slog across the line and got a top edge where Saif Hassan took the catch. Haris Rauf remained unbeaten on 2 off 3 balls as Pakistan dramatically collapsed to be bowled out for 274 in 47.3 overs. 14 extras given by the fielding side.
Rishad Hossain turned out to be the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh finishing with 3/56 in 9.3 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz the captain was excellent with his 2/34 in 10 overs. Taskin Ahmed finished with 1/59 in 8 overs. Mustafizur Rahman finished with 1/53 in 9 overs. Nahid Rana finished with 1/59 in 10 overs. Afif Hossain bowled an over for 8 runs. This now means Bangladesh will need 275 runs to win the match and clinch the series 2-0 with a game to spare.
Who’s Winning, Bangladesh or Pakistan?Â
It’s been an innings where momentum shifted from one team to another. Considering the start for Pakistan, Bangladesh have done well to keep them for 274. Having said that, it is not a simple chase and Pakistan has the bowling to trouble the hosts under lights. Pace attack will be key for Pakistan. Bangladesh needs to take it deep and have consistent partnerships.
We could be in for a thrilling run chase on the other side so this match is in the balance.
Also Read: BAN VS PAK: Maaz Sadaqat’s Blazing 50 Gives Pakistan A Solid Start