Sadaqat's all-round brilliance helps Pakistan level series with big win

Maaz Sadaqat produced a superb all-round performance to help Pakistan bounce back strongly in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, securing a 128-run victory via the DLS method in the second match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.

The win kept the series alive, with the scoreline now level at 1-1 ahead of the decider at the same venue on Sunday.

Sadaqat struck a brisk 75 off 46 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes for his maiden ODI fifty, while Salman Ali Agha added 64 off 62 deliveries as Pakistan posted 274 in 47.3 overs after Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field.

In reply, Bangladesh got off to a poor start, losing their top three batters cheaply to slump to 27 for three in 6.3 overs. A heavy hailstorm and lightning then forced a delay of more than two hours.

When play resumed, Bangladesh were set a revised target of 243 in 32 overs under the DLS method.

Litton Das made 41 off 33 balls to keep the hosts in contention, sharing a 58-run stand with Tawhid Hridoy, who scored 28. However, Bangladesh’s innings unravelled quickly after Litton was dismissed by Sadaqat in the 13th over.

The hosts lost their remaining wickets inside 23.3 overs and were bundled out for 114, suffering a comprehensive defeat.

Sadaqat was Pakistan’s most effective bowler with figures of 3-23, while Haris Rauf, replacing Abrar Ahmed, took 3-26. Shaheen Shah Afridi also chipped in with two wickets.

Earlier, Pakistan got off to a flying start as openers Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan added 103 runs in just 13 overs before Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided Bangladesh with the breakthrough by dismissing the former.

Farhan soon departed for 31, while Shamyl Hussain managed only six as Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana claimed a wicket each.

Mohammad Rizwan (44) and Salman then steadied the innings with a 109-run partnership for the fourth wicket, putting Pakistan on course for a big total.

However, a dramatic run-out of Salman triggered a late collapse, with Pakistan losing their last seven wickets for just 43 runs and failing to bat out the full 50 overs.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain was Bangladesh’s most successful bowler with 3-56, while Miraz was the most economical with 2-34. Bangladesh’s pacers were relatively expensive, with all three seamers picking up one wicket each but conceding at more than 5.90 runs per over.