Bangladesh v Pakistan - second T20 scorecard

The Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur played host to a captivating second T20 International between Bangladesh and Pakistan, a match that promised to be a crucial turning point in the series. With the series finely poised, both teams entered the contest with immense pressure, knowing that a victory here would provide significant momentum. The much-anticipated scorecard, now available, paints a vivid picture of a hard-fought encounter, showcasing moments of brilliance from both sides and ultimately determining the fate of this pivotal fixture.

Having won the toss, Pakistan elected to bat first, aiming to post a formidable total on a pitch that appeared to offer a fair contest between bat and ball. Their innings began cautiously but accelerated impressively in the middle overs, driven by a stellar performance from their captain, Babar Azam, who anchored the innings with a masterful half-century. Supported by aggressive cameos from Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, Pakistan managed to reach a competitive total of 172 for 6. Bangladesh's bowlers, particularly Mustafizur Rahman with his deceptive cutters, did well to contain the flow of runs in the death overs, picking up crucial wickets that prevented Pakistan from breaching the 180-mark, a score that would have been even more daunting.

In response, Bangladesh’s chase got off to a shaky start, losing two early wickets to the pace and swing of Shaheen Afridi, who continued his impressive form. However, a resilient partnership between Liton Das and Mahmudullah steadied the innings, bringing the home crowd back into the game. Their sensible accumulation of runs, coupled with timely boundaries, kept Bangladesh in contention. The match swung precariously in the final five overs, with Pakistan’s spinners, led by Imad Wasim, applying immense pressure. Despite a valiant effort from Afif Hossain in the dying stages, Bangladesh ultimately fell short by 10 runs, finishing their innings at 162 for 8. The disciplined bowling and sharp fielding from Pakistan in the crucial moments proved to be the difference, denying Bangladesh a much-needed victory.