Dhaka, Mar 15: A superb century by Tanzid Hasan Tamim and a disciplined bowling effort led by Taskin Ahmed helped Bangladesh register an 11-run victory and clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1 against Pakistan in the decider at the Shere Bangla National Stadium here on Sunday.
Batting first after Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi opted to field, Bangladesh posted a competitive 290 for five in their allotted 50 overs.
Tamim produced a masterful innings to register his maiden ODI century, blending timing, power and composure in a 107-ball knock that anchored Bangladesh’s innings. He began with aggressive intent, striking Haris Rauf for successive boundaries and clearing the ropes multiple times, including sixes off Abrar Ahmed and Maaz Sadaqat.
By the 31.3 over, Tamim reached his maiden century in style, stepping down the track to loft a flighted delivery from Salman Agha over long-off. The opener acknowledged the applause before kissing the turf in celebration.
Throughout the innings, Tamim displayed elegant strokeplay, carving and pulling with precision while maintaining a brisk scoring tempo. He crossed his fifty in the 15.2 over and later smashed an 83-metre six off Saad Masood, continuing to dominate the bowling.
However, just as he looked set to accelerate further, Abrar produced a deceptive wrong’un which Tamim attempted to cut outside off, only to offer a simple catch to Shaheen Afridi at cover. His dismissal for 107 (107 balls, six fours and seven sixes) came at a crucial stage and briefly pulled Pakistan back into the contest.
Earlier, Tamim had shared a 105-run opening partnership with Saif Hassan (36) to give Bangladesh a strong start. Najmul Hossain Shanto contributed 27, while Litton Das added 41 in the middle overs.
In the closing stages, Towhid Hridoy accelerated the scoring with a series of attacking strokes. He drilled Saad Masood through extra cover for a boundary before edging Shaheen Afridi past the diving Mohammad Rizwan to third man.
Hridoy later took advantage of Afridi’s angle from round the wicket, guiding the ball over backward square for another four and followed it up by crashing a powerful drive between extra cover and mid-off.
Pakistan struck back late when Rauf removed Das, who mistimed a slower delivery to Ghazi Ghori at deep square leg for 41.
Rauf then bowled Rishad Hossain with a full delivery to pick up two wickets in quick succession. Despite the late strikes, Hridoy remained unbeaten on 48 off 44 balls to guide Bangladesh to 290 for five, scoring at 5.8 runs per over.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers with three for 52, while Afridi and Abrar Ahmed picked up one wicket each.
In reply, Pakistan were rocked early and slipped to 17 for three inside three overs as Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana struck with the new ball.
Taskin removed Sahibzada Farhan and later bowled Mohammad Rizwan with a sharp delivery that jagged back off the pitch, while Nahid Rana dismissed Maaz Sadaqat and Ghazi Ghori to put Bangladesh firmly in control.
Pakistan’s resistance came through a brilliant counterattacking knock from Salman Agha, who scored a fighting 106 off 98 balls with nine fours and four sixes. Agha rebuilt the innings through important partnerships with Saad Masood (38) and Afridi (37), playing several attacking strokes to keep the chase alive.
Agha reached his century with a six off Nahid Rana, using the pace of the delivery to send the ball over the boundary before raising his bat to acknowledge the milestone. He continued to attack, lofting and sweeping the spinners while guiding Pakistan closer to the target.
However, Bangladesh struck a decisive blow in the 47th over when Taskin Ahmed dismissed Agha with a slower ball that was lofted towards deep mid-wicket, where Najmul Hossain Shanto completed the catch. The wicket proved crucial as Pakistan’s hopes began to fade.
Afridi attempted a late charge, smashing two towering sixes off Mustafizur Rahman to keep Pakistan in contention. Mustafizur, however, removed Haris Rauf with a slower delivery that was mistimed to long-on and safely caught by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
The dramatic finish came in the final over when leg-spinner Rishad Hossain kept his nerve. After a tense moment where a wide call against Afridi was overturned on review following a clear edge detected on UltraEdge, the Bangladesh bowler delivered the decisive blow.
On the final ball, Shaheen stepped down the track attempting a big hit but missed the turning delivery. Wicketkeeper Litton Das completed the stumping comfortably, dismissing Afridi and sealing Bangladesh’s 11-run victory as Pakistan were bowled out for 279.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 290/5 in 50 overs (Tanzid Hasan Tamim 107, Towhid Hridoy 48 not out, Litton Das 41; Haris Rauf 3/52).
Pakistan 279 all out in 50 overs (Salman Agha 106, Saad Masood 38, Abdul Samad 34; Taskin Ahmed 4/49, Mustafizur Rahman 3/54).
(UNI)
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