BAN vs PAK 2025, 2nd T20I Review: Bangladesh win low-scoring thriller to bag series

Bangladesh took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Pakistan on Tuesday, July 22. The Bangla Tigers defeated the Men in Green by eight runs in the second T20I at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

Salman Agha won the toss and opted to field first. Faheem Ashraf made early inroads as he sent Mohammad Naim back to the hut in the second over. Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy were dismissed in the fifth over as Bangladesh were in a spot of bother on a sluggish surface. Parvez Hossain Emon, who had scored a fifty in the first T20I, was dismissed for 13 by debutant Ahmed Daniyal in the last over of powerplay.

At 28/4, the hosts were in desperate need of a partnership. Jaker Ali, who is turning out to be a crisis man for Bangladesh of late, joined forces with Mahedi Hasan, and the duo added a crucial 53-run stand off 49 balls to resurrect the innings. After Mahedi departed for a 25-ball 32, the onus was on Jaker to take his team to a competitive total. The 27-year-old finished with a score of 55 off 48 balls, belting one four and five sixes. Bangladesh were bowled out for 133 in 20 overs. Salman Mirza, Daniyal, and Abbas Afridi bagged two wickets apiece.

In reply, Pakistan had a horrible start, as they only managed 17 runs for the loss of five wickets in the powerplay. Bangladesh bowled with great discipline, making life difficult for the Pakistani batters. Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah tried hard but couldn't up the ante. However, Ashraf was not going to go down without a fight.

The all-rounder hit four fours and as many sixes in his knock of 51 off 32 balls, while Afridi and Daniyal provided useful contributions after Pakistan had slumped to 47/7 in the 12th over. Rishad Hossain got the huge wicket of Ashraf with the final ball of the penultimate over. Mustafizur Rahman was given 13 runs to defend in the final over. Daniyal hit the first ball for a boundary to give Pakistan hopes of a miraculous win. However, he was dismissed off the following ball as Bangladesh won by eight runs. Shoriful starred with a three-for, while Mahedi and Sakib took two wickets each.

Bangladesh is still mourning the loss of several lives after an aircraft crash on Monday, July 21. The series win against the former T20 World Cup winners will come as a soothing balm, albeit a superficial one, for the cricket-crazy nation.