Bangladesh clinch first ever T20 series victory over Pakistan

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP):

JAKER ALI struck a fighting half-century as Bangladesh clinched a T20 series victory over Pakistan for the first time with yesterday’s eight-run win.

Jaker anchored the innings with sustained aggression to hit 55 runs off 48 balls with five sixes, helping Bangladesh recover from a shaky start to post 133 before being all out on a sluggish wicket.

Chasing 134, Pakistan’s top six batters were out for single digits before Faheem Ashraf waged a lone battle.

He raised his maiden 50 but was out in the next delivery with his 32 ball-51, leaving his team 13 runs away from a series-levelling victory in the last over.

Ahmed Daniyal (17) hit a four in the first ball of the last over to give Pakistan another glimmer of hope before holing out to mid-wicket on the next ball off Mustafizur Rahman as Pakistan was bowled out for 125 in 19.2 overs.

Bangladesh won the first match of the series by seven wickets.

A pre-match minute’s silence was held with both teams and officials wearing black armbands for victims of a plane crash in the Bangladesh capital Monday.

Asked to bat first, Bangladesh slumped to 25-4 with debutant Ahmed Danyal (2-23) and Salman Mirza (2-17), playing his second match, tormenting the opponents with tight line and length.

Jaker resisted with the support from Mahedi Hasan as the duo added 53 runs for the fifth wicket, giving Bangladesh a platform.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz broke the partnership with the wicket of Mahedi, who hit 33 off 25, leaving Bangladesh at 81-5 at 14th over.

Jaker then guided the lower order astutely and raised his third 50 from 46 balls, lofting Abbas Afridi for a six over long-on region.

He was dismissed in the last ball of the innings, top-edging a slower delivery of Afridi, who ended with 2-37.

Pacers Shoriful Islam (3-17), Tanzim Hasan (2-23), and offspinner Mahedi Hasan (2-25) kept Pakistan at bay, putting in disciplined bowling.

But Pakistan batters played rash shots, much like the first T20 and found themselves in a precarious 30-6 in 10th over with all six batters.

Fahim Ashraf stood tall against a spirited Bangladesh attack, raising the prospect of an unlikely victory with Khushdil Shah (13) and Abbas Afridi (19), giving him little support.

He brought up his maiden 50 from 31 deliveries, hoicking legspinner Rishad Hossain over long on for a six.

However, Rishad (1-42) took the sweet revenge in the next delivery, which crashed into his stumps, as Pakistan’s chance to win the game faded.

The third and final match is on Thursday.