Taskin’s Four-For and Tanzid’s Century Power Bangladesh to Series Win Over Pakistan

MIRPUR: Bangladesh national cricket team defeated Pakistan national cricket team by 11 runs in the third and final ODI to secure the three-match series 2-1 on Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Chasing a challenging target of 291, Pakistan were bowled out for 279 in their full quota of 50 overs after a shaky start that saw both openers dismissed inside the first two overs.

Taskin Ahmed provided Bangladesh with the perfect start, removing Sahibzada Farhan on the fifth ball of the innings for six after the batter had struck an early boundary. Soon after, Nahid Rana struck with a sharp bouncer to dismiss Maaz Sadaqat for six, leaving Pakistan struggling at 12-2 in just 1.5 overs.

Taskin continued to trouble the visitors and soon cleaned up Mohammad Rizwan for four with a delivery that crashed into the stumps, deepening Pakistan’s early trouble.

Debutant Ghazi Ghori and Abdul Samad attempted to steady the innings, combining for a 50-run partnership that took Pakistan past the fifty mark. However, Nahid Rana broke the stand on the final ball of the 14th over, dismissing Ghori for 29 off 39 balls, including three fours and a six, leaving Pakistan at 67-4.

Pakistan’s problems increased when Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Abdul Samad, who had battled for 34 off 45 deliveries with five boundaries.

Salman Ali Agha and debutant Saad Masood then tried to rebuild the innings with a crucial partnership, guiding the total past 100 in the 21st over while rotating the strike effectively and easing the pressure created by the early wickets.

Their partnership reached 79 runs before Mustafizur struck again, dismissing Saad after an impressive 38 off 44 balls. Pakistan were reduced to 161-6 in the 32nd over.

Salman Ali Agha remained the key figure in the chase, playing with authority and bringing up his tenth ODI half-century to keep Pakistan in contention. However, another blow came when Taskin Ahmed removed Faheem Ashraf for nine.

Despite wickets falling around him, Agha carried on and eventually reached a well-compiled century, anchoring Pakistan’s chase with confidence. He later added a valuable 50-run partnership with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, briefly shifting momentum towards the visitors.

But Taskin returned to deliver a decisive blow, dismissing Agha for a superb 106 off 98 balls, an innings decorated with nine fours and four sixes.

Shaheen Afridi continued to fight back and struck consecutive sixes off Mustafizur Rahman late in the innings. However, Mustafizur soon bounced back by dismissing Haris Rauf for one, leaving Pakistan needing 14 runs in the final over.

Rishad Hossain bowled the last over and held his nerve, conceding just two runs. Shaheen Afridi was stumped on the final delivery after scoring 37 off 38 balls with two fours and two sixes, sealing Bangladesh’s narrow victory.

Taskin Ahmed was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 49 in his 10 overs. Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets, while Nahid Rana picked up two and Rishad added one.

Earlier, Bangladesh made a strong start after electing to bat first. Openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan put together a solid 105-run opening partnership, laying a strong foundation for the hosts.

Saif contributed 36 off 55 balls before Shaheen Shah Afridi provided Pakistan their first breakthrough. Tanzid, however, continued his fine form and added another productive stand with Najmul Hossain Shanto to push the total beyond 150.

Haris Rauf later dismissed Shanto for 27, but Tanzid remained dominant and went on to score a brilliant maiden ODI century. His innings finally ended when Abrar Ahmed removed him for 107 off 107 balls, an impressive knock featuring six fours and seven sixes.

In the closing stages, Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy added a valuable 68-run partnership to push Bangladesh towards a competitive total. Litton scored 41 before Haris Rauf dismissed him, while Rauf also removed Rishad Hossain for a duck during an excellent spell.

Bangladesh eventually finished their innings at 290, with Towhid Hridoy remaining unbeaten on 48 off 44 balls. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler, picking up three wickets for 52 runs, while Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed took one wicket each.