Bangladesh created history by defeating Pakistan in a bilateral series for the first time since they got their ODI status. Bangladesh got the better of Pakistan in the second consecutive match courtesy some fine bowling and a brilliant knock from Tamim Iqbal. After defeating the visitors by 79 runs in the first match at Mirpur a couple of days ago, the hosts beat them again by 7 wickets in the same venue to seal the three match series 2-0 with the last match to be played on Tuesday.
Chasing 240 to win, Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal, along with Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah crossed the 100 run mark in the first 14 overs, which laid the foundation stone for the chase. Tamim reached his fifty and was joined by Mushfiqur Rahim in the crease. Rahim scored 65 as the duo put on a 118 run partnership for the third wicket and took the game away from Pakistan. Rahim got out to Rahat Ali but Tamim stayed firm and notched up his second consecutive hundred. Tamim remained unbeaten on a run a ball 116 which included 17 fours and a six and saw his team home with nearly 12 overs to spare. With this, Tamim Iqbal becomes third Bangladesh batsman after Shahriar Nafees and Mahmudullah to score back to back 100s in ODIs.
Earlier put into bat, Pakistan were off to a poor start as they lost Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Hafeez early in their innings and were reduced for 77-5 in 22 overs. Saad Nasim’s maiden ODI fifty and Wahab Riaz’s unbeaten 52 took the visitors to 239 in 50 overs. Nasim scored 77. This is Pakistan’s fifth consecutive bilateral series loss in ODIs. They are yet to win a series since beating Sri Lanka at UAE in 2013.
Brief scores: Pakistan 239 for 6 (Saad Nasim 77*, Wahab Riaz 51*, Shakib Al Hasan 2-51) lost to Bangladesh 240 for 3 (Tamim Iqbal 116*, Mushfiqur Rahim 65) by seven wickets.