After posting 274 on the board, Pakistan would have dearly liked early wickets to put pressure on Bangladesh. Pakistan who looked good to get 300+ capitulated and gave away the initiative to be bowled out for 274 inside 48 overs. It was important that Pakistan got a good start with the ball and the captain led from the front as his double strike rattled Bangladesh. The hosts were in all sorts of trouble when rain intervened and has stopped play in 6.3 overs.
Shaheen Afridi’s double strike rattles Bangladesh before rain intervenes to provide a breather.Â
Chasing 275 in 50 overs for a series win, Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan opened the batting for Bangladesh while captain Shaheen Afridi had ball in hand for Pakistan. Afridi bowled an excellent first over. Mohammad Wasim Jnr took the ball from the other end. Saif broke the shackles as he got low to cut the back of the length delivery to get the outside edge to the deep third man fence for a boundary.
Afridi continued as Saif crunched the drive through the covers for a boundary. Afridi provided the breakthrough for Pakistan as he removed Tanzid Hasan for 1 off 7 balls as the fuller ball on middle and leg stump was flicked by the batter to deep backward square leg where Wasim Jnr made no mistake. Najmul Hossain Shanto came out to bat next.
Wasim struck again as Bangladesh lost back-to-back wickets as Saif Hassan fell for 12 off 12 balls with 2 fours to his name. Wasim bowled a fuller length outside off-stump which the batter tried to play it over mid-off and didn’t get the elevation as Samad inside the ring leapt and took it safely. Litton Das came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Afridi continued and got another as he cleaned up Shanto for a silver duck. He bowled a good length delivery shaping back into the batter and kept a tad low as well. Shanto played the wrong line by looking to defend and got beaten on the inside edge as the ball went through the bat and pad gap and onto the stumps. Towhid Hridoy came out to bat next.
Wasim continued as Litton punched the ball through covers. Hussain Talat was after it and pulled it back but hit the advertisements in the process and hurt himself in the process. Later, he was taken out on a stretcher as he was in some pain. Litton then opened the bat face to a length delivery and punched it through backward point for a boundary. Afridi continued and bowled 3 balls into the over when the weather intervened.
Bangladesh are in all sorts of trouble at 27/3 in 6.3 overs with Litton Das unbeaten on 13 off 15 balls and Towhid Hridoy with him on 0 off 3 balls. Lightning interrupted initially and then rain came in and the players are still off the field as we speak. Shaheen Afridi has figures of 2/9 in 3.3 overs while Mohammad Wasim Jnr has figures of 1/18 in 3 overs. Pakistan on top as rain has stopped play in Mirpur, Dhaka.
What Lies Ahead.Â
For starters, the play has to resume in Mirpur, Dhaka. It rained heavily there and now it has stopped but puddles have formed on the ground and lightning is happening at the venue which is preventing a lot of things happening. Even if the game resumes, it will be reduced and DLS adjusted. Pakistan on top and will want the rain to stop and play to resume. Bangladesh at this stage won’t mind the stoppage.
Let’s see and hope that the weather fully clears and we have a resumption of play soon. After a delay of more than 2 hours, the match resumed with the game reduced to 32 overs a side and the revised target was 243 for Bangladesh. Pakistan well and truly bossing the game now.
Also Read:Â BAN VS PAK: All-Round Batting Display Led By Maaz Sadaqat Helps Pakistan Post 274.