DHAKA: Mohammad Nawaz struck a boundary off the last ball as Pakistan overcame late drama to beat Bangladesh by five wickets in Monday’s third and final Twenty20 International for a series whitewash.

Bangladesh totalled a mediocre 124-7 on a two-paced wicket that had variable bounce, but a slow approach meant Pakistan needed eight runs off the final six balls.

Captain Mahmudullah Riyad came on to bowl his only over of the day and dismissed Sarfaraz Ahmed and Haider Ali in consecutive deliveries before Iftikhar Ahmed smashed a huge six off the fourth ball, denying him a hat-trick.

With two runs needed off two balls, Iftikhar went for glory but ended up being caught for six at backward point. New batsman Nawaz then hit a four through extra cover to take to 127-5 and break Bangladesh hearts.

Mahmudullah finished with 3-10 from his solitary over.

“The pitch was a tricky one,” player-of-the-series Mohammad Rizwan said. “Whenever you play away, you get on different kinds of pitches. But we try to stick to our process.”

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was dismissed for 19 while Rizwan’s 51-run partnership with Haider gave the tourists an early boost.

Paceman Shohidul Islam, making his debut, bowled Rizwan for 40 to break the stand but Haider appeared to be in full control, hitting 45 in 38 balls with three fours and two sixes before falling.

Mahmudullah had opted to bat first but debut paceman Shahnawaz Dhani, leg-spinner Usman Qadir and fast bowler Mohammad Wasim claimed two wickets apiece to restrict Bangladesh to their low score.

Dhani took a wicket in his first over by removing Najmul Hossain Shanto for five before Wasim and Usman rattled the hosts.

Wasim claimed 2-15 and Qadir finished with 2-35 playing his first match in the series.

Mohammad Naim ended up as the top-scorer for the home team with 47 off 50 balls.

“Batters from both teams struggled a bit,” Mahmudullah said at the end of the match. “[We] needed to spend some time at the crease to capitalise. Naim batted well.”

Babar credited Pakistan’s team spirit for the series whitewash.

“The way every individual has performed, credit to the group. There is always scope for improvement,” he said.

Pakistan won the first game by four wickets and the second by eight wickets.

The visitors will now play two Test matches, starting in Chittagong on November 26.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Mohammad Naim c and b Wasim 47

Najmul Hossain b Dahani 5

Shamim Hossain c Iftikhar b Qadir 22

Afif Hossain c Rizwan b Qadir 20

Mahmudullah Riyad c Wasim b Haris 13

Nurul Hasan c Qadir b Wasim 4

Mahedi Hasan not out 5

Aminul Islam run out 3

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-1, W-2) 5

TOTAL (for seven wkts; 20 overs) 124

DID NOT BAT: Taskin Ahmed, Shahidul Islam, Nasum Ahmed.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7 (Najmul), 2-37 (Shamim), 3-80 (Afif), 4-111 (Naim), 5-116 (Nurul), 6-116 (Mahmudullah), 7-124 (Aminul).

BOWLING: Nawaz 1-0-2-0, Dahani 3-0-24-1(w1), Wasim 4-0-15-2, Haris 4-0-32-1(w1), Iftikhar 4-0-13-0, Qadir 4-0-35-2.

PAKISTAN:

Mohammad Rizwan b Shahidul 40

Babar Azam c Naim b Aminul 19

Haider Ali c Najmul b Mahmudullah 45

Sarfaraz Ahmed c Naim b Mahmudullah 6

Iftikhar Ahmed c sub b Mahmudullah 6

Khushdil Shah not out 0

Mohammad Nawaz not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-1, W-3) 7

TOTAL (for five wkts, 20 overs) 127

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Wasim Jr, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-32 (Babar), 2-83 (Rizwan), 3-117 (Sarfaraz), 4-117 (Haider), 5-123 (Iftikhar).

BOWLING: Mahedi 4-0-19-0, Taskin 3.1-0-16-0, Nasum 4-0-20-0 (w1), Shahidul 3.5-0-33-1 (w1, nb1), Aminul 4-0-26-1 (w1), Mahmudullah 1-0-10-3.

RESULT: Pakistan won by five wickets.

SERIES: Pakistan won series 3-0.

UMPIRES: Masudur Rahman and Tanvir Ahmed (Bangladesh).

TV UMPIRE: Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh).

MATCH REFEREE: Neeyamur Rashid (Bangladesh).

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Haider Ali (Pakistan).

PLAYER-OF-THE-SERIES: Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan).

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2021