Bangladesh Vs Pakistan Second T20 International Played at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on 25 January 2019
Pakistan 137/1 in 16.4 Overs (Mohammad Hafiz 67* , Babar Azam 66* ) beat Bangladesh 136/6 in 20 0vers( Tamim Iqbal 66 , Afiff Hossain 21, Mohammad Hasnain 2/20 ) by 9 wickets
Player of the Match: Babar Azam.
Shocked and awed Bangladesh cricket team got swept away by tidal surge at Gaddafi stadium Lahore. They were comprehensively outplayed in the second T20 losing by 9wickets. Back to back defeat over the last two days puts them on the way for a series white wash.. On a wicket which looked like a mine field Bangladesh crawled to 136/6 in their allotted 20 overs . Pakistan chased with all the ease and comfort scoring 137/1 . Champion Pakistani batsman Babar Azam scored a classic unbeaten innings of 66 and veteran Mohammad Hafiz also produced a quality unbeaten innings of 67. The spirit that Bangladesh showed in the first T20 day before yesterday was evaporated. It was an abject surrender . None could find any reason for clueless Bangladesh batting .
Bangladesh changed Mithun bringing in Mehedi Miraj to bolster spin attack. Once again Mahmudullah won the toss and elected to bat. Unlike the first match the wicket looked a bit lively . Naim Sheikh scored a golden duck nicking Afridi behind . Bangladesh made a disastrous start. Team think tank sent Miraj at number three holding back Liton and Soumya more suitable for playing new ball . He also failed to cash in the opportunity. Tamim on the other end was agin taking time for settling into his gear. For reasons best known to them Bangladesh batsmen neither played T20 like strokes nor rotated strikes . Liton’s stay at the wicket was brief getting LBW to a Shadab Googley . Soumya is known for his aggressive batting at the top order . When he is in the team he should either open the innings or bat at number three . For reasons best known to team management Afiff was sent above Mahmuduallh and Soumya. Afiff and Tamim wasted 7 overs for adding only 34 runs which bogged down Bangladesh innings at critical stage . Mahmudullah and Soumya could not change the course of the match. Tamim scored 66 in 53 deliveries but it was too little too less. For the second match in succession he got run out through lazy running between the wicket. Bangladesh crawled to 136/6 which appeared at least 30 runs too less. There was no demon in the wicket . Bangladesh was just not good enough .
Only similarity between Bangladesh and Pakistan innings was young Pakistan opener Ahsan Ali scoring a duck felling to Shafiul. Captain Babar Azam was in sublime form . He was joined by veteran Hafiz. Two produced a very lively and matured unbroken partnership of 131 crushing Bangladesh by 9 wickets . None of the Bangladeshi bowlers could create any impression on Pakistani batsmen.
The pathetic performance of Bangladesh had no clues .Mahmudullah definitely flawed in setting the batting order right .There was no pint sending Meraj at number three . Soumya is an opener, Liton is also there. After early departure of Naim one of them should have been sent .Even he could come at number three . Tamim scored 66 , Babar also scored 66. One can not compare the two innings . While Babar played a typical match winning classical T20 innings of aggression Tamim’s was uncharacteristic grinding . He did not try seriously reaching his wicket when he got run out .
Losing two matches back to back Bangladesh looks poised for a series white wash.
In T20 or any match any team can win or loose any day .But the manner in which Bangladesh played and lost yesterday shocked the admirers . None showed any willingness to fight. The strategy of team think tank also could not be decoded. There is no reason for blaming the wicket. On the same wicket Pakistan batted comfortably while Bangladesh huffed and puffed. The match clearly underlined Pakistan’s top ranking in T20 and Bangladesh ranking at the bottom.
BDST: 0025HRS, JAN 26, 2020
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