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TANVIN TAMIM
More than a thousand spectators chose to stay back at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium despite a long two-hour delay, hoping Bangladesh could still pull off a miracle on Friday.
The equation was daunting. After being 27 for 3 when rain and a sudden hailstorm halted play, the hosts were set a revised target of 243 in 32 overs under the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method.
For a while, Litton Das kept that hope alive.
Every run he scored drew loud cheers from the stubborn Mirpur crowd, while his boundaries briefly lifted the mood around the ground. But once Litton was trapped lbw, that fragile optimism faded quickly.
Bangladesh’s chase soon unravelled as they were bowled out for 114 in 23.3 overs, handing Pakistan a 128-run victory by the DLS method in the second ODI on Friday.
Bangladesh had already suffered early setbacks in their chase before the weather interruption.
Tanzid Hasan was the first to fall, caught at backward square leg for one off Shaheen Shah Afridi. Saif Hassan followed soon after, offering a catch to short mid-off on the first ball of Mohammad Wasim’s over after scoring 12.
The hosts slipped further when Najmul Hossain Shanto was bowled by Afridi for a duck, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 27 for 3 in 6.3 overs.
With Litton and Tawhid Hridoy at the crease trying to rebuild, a sudden thunderstorm accompanied by hail forced the players off the field.
After the lengthy delay, the match resumed at 9:35 pm, with Bangladesh facing the steep revised target.
Litton attempted to counterattack after the restart, striking four boundaries and two sixes in an aggressive 41 off 33 balls.
But his dismissal proved decisive. He was trapped lbw by part-time spinner Maaz Sadaqat, triggering another collapse.
Hridoy fought briefly for 28 off 38 balls before falling lbw to Haris Rauf. Afif Hossain added 14 but also fell to Sadaqat, while captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz managed just one run.
Pakistan’s bowlers maintained control throughout, with Rauf and Sadaqat claiming three wickets each as Bangladesh folded for 114.
Tigers’ fightback earlier
Earlier, Bangladesh had produced a spirited bowling effort to dismiss Pakistan for 274 in 47.3 overs.
Pakistan raced to 103 in 13 overs through an attacking opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan and Sadaqat, who smashed 75 off 46 balls.
But the Tigers clawed their way back into the contest through regular breakthroughs. Salman Ali Agha later top-scored with 64, while Mohammad Rizwan made 44.
Bangladesh struck crucial blows late in the innings as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for 43 runs.
Rishad Hossain led the bowling with three for 56, while Miraz took two for 34, helping restrict Pakistan to 274.