Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 128 Runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the rain-affected second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday, levelling the three-match series at 1-1.
Maaz Sadaqat led the win with an all-round display, smashing a rapid 75 for Pakistan and then taking three wickets as Bangladesh crumbled in a revised chase.
A two-hour rain and hailstorm delay reshaped the contest and set Bangladesh a revised target of 243 in 32 overs. However, the hosts collapsed for 114 in 23.3 overs, despite a brief counterattack from Litton Das.
Bangladesh had already slipped into trouble before the weather stopped play. Tanzid Hasan fell for one, caught at backward square leg off Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Saif Hassan departed for 12 after offering a catch to short mid-off off Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto then went for a duck, bowled by Shaheen, leaving Bangladesh 27 for 3 in 6.3 overs when the sudden storm forced players off the field.
After the restart, Litton tried to revive the chase with boundaries, including two sixes, but Maaz trapped him lbw for 41. Tawhid Hridoy made 28 off 38 before Haris Rauf pinned him lbw, and Afif Hossain added 14 before becoming Sadaqat’s second wicket.
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Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz managed just one run as Bangladesh’s innings folded quickly. Rauf and Sadaqat took three wickets each to complete Pakistan’s dominant bowling performance.
Sadaqat’s 75 Sets Up Pakistan’s Total Of 274
Earlier, Bangladesh fought back with the ball after Pakistan surged to a fast start. Pakistan raced to 103 for the opening wicket inside 13 overs through an aggressive partnership between Sahibzada Farhan and Sadaqat.
Sadaqat struck 75 off 46 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes. Farhan scored 31 before Taskin Ahmed dismissed him.
Salman Agha later top-scored with 64 off 62 balls and added 109 with Mohammad Rizwan (44). Mehidy ran out Agha at the non-striker’s end in a dramatic moment that sparked animated reactions on the field.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain finished as Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker with 3 for 56 as Pakistan were bowled out for 274 in 47.3 overs, a total that proved too much on a rain-shortened night in Mirpur.
Pakistan’s win squares the three-match series at 1-1. The teams will play the series decider on Sunday
