In a gripping contest at a packed Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh scripted history with an emotional eight-run victory over Pakistan to seal their first-ever T20I series win against their regional rivals. The second T20I of the series on Tuesday had everything – collapses, fightbacks, and a crowd swept by nerves and national pride – as Bangladesh claimed a 2–0 unassailable lead in the three-match series.
We didn’t bat well in the power play and lost a couple of wickets. But the way Shak, Mahedi and Jaker batted was amazing to watch. When we see a wicket like this, 130-140 feels defendable. And our bowlers bowled really well in those first 10 to 12 overs.
“This series win is dedicated to the victims of yesterday’s heartbreaking event. We can’t fill the void of those lives lost, but from our side, this is for them,” he added, in an emotional nod to a national tragedy that cast a shadow over the game.
Defending a modest 133, Bangladesh’s bowlers turned up with fire and focus. Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib ripped through Pakistan’s top order, reducing them to a stunning 15/5 in just five overs – their worst-ever score after five wickets in T20Is.
Shoriful delivered early blows, dismissing Mohammad Haris and Fakhar Zaman, while Tanzim dealt the killer double punch in the fifth over, removing both Nawazs – Hasan and Mohammad – off successive balls.
At 47/7, Pakistan looked dead and buried until Faheem Ashraf launched a defiant counter-attack. His maiden T20I fifty – a 31-ball 51 peppered with four boundaries and three sixes – brought the game alive. A 41-run ninth-wicket partnership with Abbas Afridi narrowed the gap, and a 20-run over off Rishad Hossain swung the momentum Pakistan’s way.
With 13 needed off the final over, it was Mustafizur Rahman who once again proved clutch. He removed debutant Ahmed Daniyal to shut the door, handing Bangladesh a pulsating win with three balls remaining.
Earlier, after being sent in to bat, Bangladesh were rocked early by Pakistan’s pace duo. Daniyal removed both Parvez Hossain Emon and Shamim Hossain, and Salman Mirza bowled with great control to leave the hosts reeling at 28/4.
But the momentum shifted through a superb innings from Jaker Ali. The keeper-batter smashed 55 off 38 balls, including five towering sixes. His 53-run stand with Mahedi Hasan Miraz (33) helped Bangladesh recover, and a late onslaught from Jaker lifted them to 133 – a total that proved just enough.
130 was a total we thought we had under control, but the way we batted in the power play, that needs to be improved. The bowlers gave us a chance, but we couldn’t capitalise.
Bangladesh now head into the final match on Wednesday aiming for a memorable clean sweep, while Pakistan will look to salvage pride in what has turned into a sobering tour for their T20I unit.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 133 all out in 20 overs (Jaker Ali 55, Mahedi Hasan 33; Salman Mirza 2/17, Ahmed Daniyal 2/23) Pakistan 125 all out in 19.2 overs (Faheem Ashraf 51, Abbas Afridi 19; Shoriful Islam 3/17, Tanzim Hasan 2/23) Bangladesh won by 8 runs.
