By our correspondent
LAHORE: Sahibzada Farhan (74) and Hasan Nawaz (51 not out) hammered fine fifties while leggie Abrar Ahmed took 3-19 in his quota of four overs to enable Pakistan take a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match T20I series when they conquered Bangladesh by 57 runs in the second show at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Friday night.
Pakistan posted 201-6 thanks to fine batting display from opener Farhan and middle order batsman Hasan Nawaz who chipped in with a late charge to assert his authority as an emerging star.
Abrar then produced his career-best figures to dismiss Bangladesh for 144 in 19 overs with Tanzim Hasan Sakib scoring 31-ball 50 which is his maiden half century of his T20I career.
Abrar’s previous best figures were 3-28 which he had produced against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on December 1, 2024.
This was the second successive win for the hosts after they had outsmarted the visitors by 37 runs on Wednesday in the opening game at the same venue.
The third and final match between the two nations will be held at the same venue on Sunday.
Set to score a tough target Tanzid Hasan provided a brisk start to Bangladesh. He smashed a 19-ball 33 with five fours and one six and dominated the 44-run first wicket stand with Parvez Hossain Emon (8) who was excellently held by Hasan Ali off the bowling of Haris Rauf in the deep while running back.
Tanzid, who was also smartly held by Abrar Ahmed at fine-leg off Faheem Ashraf, smashed five fours and a six. Tanzid hit Salman Ali Agha for two fours and a six in the first over of the innings which produced 17 runs.
Bangladesh kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Hasan Ali removed skipper Litton Das (6) in the sixth over to leave Bangladesh at 54-3.
In the next over spinner Abrar Ahmed trapped lbw both Towhid Hridoy (5) and Jaker Ali (0) off his two successive deliveries to leave the visitors gasping at 56-5.
Towhid’s dismissal was controversial. It seemed that the ball was missing the leg-stump. DRS is not being used in the series.
Abrar then had Shamim Hossain (7) and Shadab Khan got rid of Rishad Hossain (1) to further compounded Bangladesh’s miseries.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanzim Hasan Sakib then showed resistance by sharing 33 for the eighth wicket association. It was left-arm spinner Khushdil Shah who got rid of Mehidy who belted 17:ball 23, featuring two fours.
And Bangladesh were gasping at 110-8 in 14 overs.
Tanzim continued his fine batting display and went on to complete his fifty off 30 balls, having hammered five sixes and one four.
Abrar was ably backed by Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah and Saim Ayub who all took one wicket each.
Earlier Sahibzada Farhan and Hasan Nawaz blasted fine fifties to enable Pakistan post a decent total on the board.
Farhan hammered a 41-ball 74 while Hasan smashed a 26-ball 51 not out to power the hosts to a good total.
Farhan carried his PSL form into the international level to mark his fine return to the national duty.
Farhan, who was given the chance in place of Fakhar Zaman, lived up to the billing. He showed the kind of confidence through which he batted in the PSL. After narrowly surviving in the first over of spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz when he hit a mistimed shot which fielder failed to hold it while diving full-length Farhan did not look back.
He managed some exquisite strokes that entertained the crowd. Farhan, who completed his first fifty of his T20I career from 29 balls, hit six sixes and four fours in his fine knock.
He hit two successive sixes off the bowling of Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the third over which yielded 14 runs. He then smacked leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for two successive sixes in the tenth over which produced 16 runs.
Farhan, who edged a delivery from Rishad to keeper Litton Das, added 103 runs off 54 balls for the second wicket partnership with Mohammad Haris who also played a superb knock of 25-ball 41. Haris smashed two sixes and four fours in his quick-fire knock. Haris also hammered pacer Hasan Mahmud for three successive fours in the sixth over of the innings which yielded 16 runs. It was pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib who broke Farhan-Haris stand by getting rid of Haris, held at point by Rishad.
Agha Salman and Hasan Nawaz then stitched a quick 45 runs off 24 balls for the fourth wicket stand to boost Pakistan’s total.
Hasan Mahmud trapped Salman Ali Agha lbw when he went for a slog sweep and it hit him straight on his back leg which was right in front of the wicket and umpire had no hesitation in rasing his finger.
Salman struck three fours in his 12-ball 19.
Hasan Nawaz, who had hit 105 not out against New Zealand on his debut series recently, did extremely well by smashing a 26-ball 51 striking three sixes and two fours. Hasan completed his fifty off 25 balls.
After opting to bat first Pakistan lost early wicket when Saim Ayub got run out for four while trying to take the third run. He was sent back by Farhan but he slipped and failed to make his ground.
Pakistan reached 67-1 in the powerplay, were 107-1 in ten overs and were 161-3 in 15 overs. In the last five overs they scored just 40.
Hasan Mahmud (2-47) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (2-36) were the most impressive bowlers.
Rishad was expensive as he finished with 1-50 in four overs.
Earlier Bangladesh received a huge blow when their frontline pacer Shoriful Islam pulled his right thigh muscles after bowling just three deliveries in his first over. Spinner Shamim Hossain then completed his over.
Pakistan made one change by bringing in Sahibzada Farhan in place of Fakhar Zaman.
Bangladesh brought in Mehidy Hasan Miraz in place Mahedi Hasan.
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Pakistan Seal T20I Series with Dominant 57-Run Win Over Bangladesh
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE – Sahibzada Farhan and Hasan Nawaz struck impressive fifties, while leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed recorded career-best figures to guide Pakistan to a commanding 57-run victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday night. The win gave Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a formidable 201-6, powered by a 41-ball 74 from opener Farhan and an unbeaten 26-ball 51 from middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz. Abrar Ahmed then starred with the ball, claiming 3-19 in four overs as Bangladesh were bowled out for 144 in 19 overs.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib provided some resistance for the visitors with a valiant 31-ball 50 — his maiden T20I half-century — but the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under sustained pressure from Pakistan’s bowlers.
Abrar, whose previous best was 3-28 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on December 1, 2024, was well-supported by Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, and Saim Ayub — all of whom picked up one wicket each.
This victory followed Pakistan’s 37-run win in the opening match on Wednesday, also at Gaddafi Stadium. The third and final T20I will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
Early Fireworks and Collapse
Chasing 202, Bangladesh made a brisk start with opener Tanzid Hasan smashing a 19-ball 33, including five fours and a six. He dominated a 44-run opening stand with Parvez Hossain Emon (8), who was brilliantly caught by Hasan Ali off Haris Rauf.
Tanzid’s aggressive start, including 17 runs off the first over from Salman Ali Agha, gave Bangladesh early hope. However, he fell soon after, smartly held by Abrar at fine-leg off Faheem Ashraf.
The visitors’ innings unraveled quickly. Hasan Ali removed captain Litton Das (6) in the sixth over before Abrar struck twice in successive deliveries, trapping Towhid Hridoy (5) and Jaker Ali (0) lbw to leave Bangladesh reeling at 56-5. Towhid’s dismissal appeared to be missing leg stump, but with no DRS available in the series, the on-field decision stood.
Abrar continued to torment Bangladesh, dismissing Shamim Hossain (7), while Shadab Khan removed Rishad Hossain (1) to deepen the collapse. A 33-run stand between Mehidy Hasan Miraz (23 off 17) and Tanzim gave Bangladesh a brief reprieve before Khushdil Shah broke the partnership.
Tanzim reached his fifty from 30 balls, featuring five sixes and a four, but his efforts were not enough to prevent another comprehensive defeat.
Farhan, Hasan Lead Pakistan’s Charge
Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan and Hasan Nawaz led Pakistan’s strong batting effort. Farhan, returning to the national side in place of Fakhar Zaman, showcased his PSL form with a 41-ball 74, his maiden T20I fifty, including six sixes and four fours.
Farhan survived an early scare in the opening over from Mehidy Hasan Miraz but recovered strongly. He struck two consecutive sixes off Mehidy in the third over and repeated the feat against Rishad Hossain in the 10th. Farhan shared a 103-run second-wicket partnership with Mohammad Haris, who smashed 41 off 25 balls with four fours and two sixes.
Haris hit pacer Hasan Mahmud for three consecutive boundaries in the sixth over before being dismissed by Tanzim Hasan Sakib, caught at point by Rishad Hossain.
Hasan Nawaz and Agha Salman added 45 off 24 balls for the fourth wicket. Salman made 19 off 12 before being trapped lbw by Hasan Mahmud. Hasan Nawaz, fresh off a hundred against New Zealand in his debut series, was once again impressive, reaching his half-century from 25 balls with three sixes and two fours.
Pakistan reached 67-1 in the powerplay, 107-1 at the halfway mark, and 161-3 after 15 overs. They managed 40 runs in the final five overs to finish on 201-6.
Injuries and Changes
Bangladesh suffered an early blow when pacer Shoriful Islam pulled a thigh muscle after bowling just three deliveries. Spinner Shamim Hossain completed the over.
Pakistan made one change, bringing in Sahibzada Farhan for Fakhar Zaman. Bangladesh replaced Mahedi Hasan with Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Hasan Mahmud (2-47) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (2-36) were the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, while Rishad Hossain was expensive, conceding 50 runs in his four overs.
