Bangladesh face off Pakistan in Series decider
The ongoing ODI series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is finely poised, with both sides securing one win each to level the series 1-1. As both sides are set to face each other in the third ODI today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur..
Bangladesh won the first ODI comfortably by 8 wickets after Nahid Rana dismantled the Pakistan batting line-up.
In the second ODI, Pakistan bowlers were up to the task as they bowled out Bangladesh for the exact score Pakistan made in the first game of 114 runs.
Following a rain and hailstorm that delayed the match by around one and a half hours, Bangladesh was set a revised target of 243 in 32 overs.
As a result, the batters had no option but to go for relentless attacking cricket.
The damage, however, had already been done before the rain interruption as Bangladesh was reduced to 27-3 in 6.3 overs while chasing the original target of 275.
Bangladesh batters failed to maintain the sustained aggression required to win such a curtailed match. In fact, the inability to sustain aggression has often been a recurring issue for them in international cricket.
Pakistan, meanwhile, bounced back strongly after a horrendous first game in which pacer Nahid Rana rattled them with figures of 5-24.
Maaz Sadaqat took responsibility to anchor the innings while providing an explosive start.
He hammered a 46-ball 75 to lay the foundation, which proved instrumental in helping Pakistan post 274 despite a late-order collapse.
If Pakistan’s batters continue in the same vein in the third match, Bangladesh may once again find themselves in trouble while chasing the series.
Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, however, pointed to his team’s own shortcomings rather than Pakistan’s resurgence.
“We didn’t execute well in the first 10 overs, which we did in the last match. It’s a very good wicket to bat on but our top-order batters didn’t get many runs,” Miraz said, adding that they must improve if they want to win the series.
“We have to improve our batting and take more responsibility. I hope our players will respond accordingly.”
Despite the defeat, Bangladesh may field an unchanged side for the series-deciding match. Pakistan is also likely to retain the same line-up.
