Sports Desk (MNN); Bangladesh national cricket team secured a 2–1 victory in the three-match one-day international series against Pakistan national cricket team after defeating the visitors by 11 runs in the final match on Sunday.
The decisive third ODI was played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, where Pakistan narrowly missed the target despite a strong batting effort.
Chasing a total of 291 runs, Pakistan were bowled out just short of the target. A brilliant 106-run innings by Salman Agha kept Pakistan in the contest, but his effort ultimately proved insufficient as the team fell 11 runs short.
Pakistan’s innings began poorly as openers Sahizada Farhaan and Maaz Sadaqat were dismissed early after scoring only six runs each.
Debutant Saad Masood contributed 38 runs, while captain Shaheen Afridi added 37 runs in an attempt to stabilise the innings.
Bangladesh’s bowling attack played a decisive role in the victory. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed delivered a match-winning performance, taking four wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Salman Agha when he appeared set to guide Pakistan to victory.
Mustafizur Rahman also impressed with three wickets, while Nahid Rana claimed two.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh had opted to bat first after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl in the series decider.
Bangladesh’s openers laid a strong foundation for the innings, with Tanzid Hasan scoring his maiden ODI century. His outstanding performance earned him the player of the match award.
Middle-order batters Towhid Hridoy and Litton Das further strengthened the total by scoring 48 and 41 runs respectively.
Bangladesh eventually posted a competitive total of 290 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets, while Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed claimed one wicket each.
Pakistan had earlier kept the series alive by defeating Bangladesh in the second ODI after suffering a heavy eight-wicket defeat in the opening match, where Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed for just 114 runs.
Despite the comeback in the second game, Bangladesh secured the series with their narrow win in the final match.
