Bangladesh clinch historic T20 series win over Pakistan
Ashraf hit an aggressive 32-ball 51 while debutant Daniyal smashed an 11-ball 17 but holed out off the second ball of the final over as Pakistan were all out for 125 in their chase of 134 to win in Dhaka.
Earlier, Jaker Ali struck a 48-ball 55 as Bangladesh -- sent in to bat -- were bowled out for 133 in 20 overs, with Salman Mirza taking 2-17 and Daniyal close behind on 2-23.
Left-arm Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam picked up his best T20I figures of 3-17 on a slow-paced Mirpur pitch as Pakistan lost their first five wickets for just 15 runs by the fifth over.
Ashraf cracked four sixes and as many boundaries to raise hopes of a comeback win, but spinner Rishad Hossain bowled him in the penultimate over.
Ashraf and Abbas Afridi, who scored a 13-ball 19, had revived the innings from 47-7 with a 41-run stand, but Bangladesh had the last laugh.
Bangladesh won the first match at the same venue by seven wickets and took an unassailable 2-0 lead with the final match on Thursday, also in Dhaka.
This was Bangladesh's first T20I series win over Pakistan in four tries.
Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub to a run out for one in the first over before Islam dismissed Fakhar Zaman (8) and Mohammad Haris (0) to hit Pakistan hard at the top.
Bangladesh skipper Litton Das praised a team effort.
"It's wonderful to win back-to-back series," said Litton, who also led the team to a 2-1 T20I series in Sri Lanka last week. "This shows good improvement in our standards."
Pakistan captain Salman Agha rued his side's batting lapses.
"We thought 134 would be gettable but we lost too many wickets early on and that's something we must address quickly," said Agha.
Earlier, Jaker smashed five sixes and a boundary for his third T20I half century.
Bangladesh had lost four wickets for 28 by the sixth over before Jaker and Mahedi Hasan revived the innings with a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Mahedi scored a 25-ball 33 with two sixes and as many boundaries.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
West Indies, India set for big clash in World Championship of Legends
India Champions and West Indies Champions are ready for Tuesday's high-stakes match at the World Championship of Legends. A victory in this encounter would secure the West Indies Champions a spot in the semifinal stage of the tournament. West Indies team, known for their skill and determination, will be looking to capitalise on this opportunity and make their mark in the championship. The match promises to be an exciting clash between two talented teams, with the winner taking a significant step towards the next round. "We are focused on giving our best performance and making our fans proud," said West Indies Champions captain Chris Gayle. "Beating the India Champions will be a huge achievement, and we are confident that our team has the talent and spirit to make it happen. Our focus is clear to win the next match and book a spot in semifinals." The World Championship of Legends features some of the biggest names in cricket, and this match is expected to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. "I am confident that our team will fight till the end of this competition. We face India Champions in the next match, which will be a tough battle, but our team has many legends who have the capabilities to win the next match," Ajay Sethi, owner of West Indies Champions, said. India Champions, who won the inaugural edition of the tournament last year, will hope to earn their first victory of the season following their 23-run defeat to England on Sunday. It was the third defeat of the campaign for the Yuvraj Singh-led Indian team.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
2 hours ago
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
The Asia Cup 2025 is officially coming to Abu Dhabi
The Asian Cricket Council has confirmed that the United Arab Emirates will host the 2025 Asia Cup. Following a meeting in Dhaka on Thursday July 24, ACC president Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the tournament will officially be held in the UAE. The biennial cricket tournament will be played between Tuesday September 9 and Sunday September 28. While venues have not officially been confirmed, it's likely that the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium will host some of the biggest matches, which could include Pakistan vs India. Old rivals India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group, which means that we'll likely get another showdown between the two in Abu Dhabi and Dubai following the ICC Champions Trophy event in February. Similar to the ICC Champions Trophy, India was originally slated to host the competition, but a dispute between the cricket boards of India and Pakistan has meant the tournament had to be moved. Unlike the ICC Champions Trophy, which saw matches played in both Pakistan and Dubai, the Asia Cup 2025 will be played entirely in the UAE. Asia Cup 2025 teams and schedule Virat Kohli celebrates India's victory over Pakistan in Dubai (Credit: ICC) Fixture dates have been confirmed but venues have not yet been revealed for any of the matches. India and Pakistan are joined in Group A by Oman and the tournament hosts United Arab Emirates. Asia Cup Group A fixtures India vs UAE, Wed Sep 10 Pakistan vs Oman, Fri Sep 12 India vs Pakistan, Sun Sep 14 UAE vs Oman, Mon Sep 15 Pakistan vs UAE, Wed Sep 17 India vs Oman, Fri Sep 19 Group B will feature Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. Asia Cup Group B fixtures Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, Tue Sep 9 Bangladesh vs Hong Kong, Thu Sep 11 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Sat Sep 13 Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong, Mon Sep 19 Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Tue Sep 16 Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Thu Sep 18 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Asian Cricket Council (@asiancricketcouncil) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all qualified automatically as full members of the Asia Cricket Council, while Hong Kong, Oman and the UAE qualified via the ACC Men's Premier Cup. Each nation will play a single T20 group stage match against those they've been drawn with and the two teams with the most points after the groups will advance to the Super Four stage. The Super Four stage will then see the top two teams from each group advance to another four team group and the top two from that will then play in the grand final on Sunday September 29. As the two biggest teams in the tournament, there's a strong possibility that we could then get a second and third India vs Pakistan match in the Super Four stage and then the Asia Cup final if both teams make it that far. If India and Pakistan are ranked in the top two in their group then they'll meet each other again on Sunday September 21 in the Super Four stage Asia Cup 2025 Super Four and final dates Group B winner vs Group B runner-up, Sat Sep 20 Group A winner vs Group A runner-up, Sun Sep 21 Group A runner-up vs Group B winner, Tue Sep 23 Group A winner vs Group B runner-up, Wed Sep 24 Group A runner-up vs Group B runner-up, Thu Sep 25 Group A winner vs Group B runner-up, Fri Sep 26 Final, Sun Sep 28 Asia Cup 2025 in Abu Dhabi tickets (Credit: ICC/Getty) Tickets will go on sale in the near future, once venues have been finalised. Prices should be fairly accessible if the ICC Champions Trophy can be considered a guide. However, the India vs Pakistan match did experience a price hike. For the latest ACC Asia Cup ticket news, check back with Time Out Abu Dhabi. Summer in Abu Dhabi The 27 best things to do indoors this summer in Abu Dhabi It's time for some air-conditioned bliss Psst: This is when summer officially ends in Abu Dhabi No complaints here 25 brilliant beach and pool day passes in Abu Dhabi Grab your SPF – a lush day by the water awaits
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Belgian GP talking points: Piastri's pole prediction, Horner's absence and Hamilton's recovery
Spa remains one of Formula One's most demanding venues and Sunday proved no exception, with Oscar Piastri rising to the challenge on a wet weekend in Belgium. After a cautious rolling start, he made a bold move on teammate Lando Norris to seize the lead and never looked back, delivering another clinical victory. Behind him, Lewis Hamilton carved through the field with a series of brilliant overtakes, climbing from deep on the grid into the points with a drive that showcased his experience and control. After another memorable weekend in Belgium, here are the key talking points. Piastri's prediction comes true A portrait of calm in the eye of the storm, Piastri drove with quiet authority and flawless execution at Spa-Francorchamps, mastering the conditions to take his sixth win of the season and tighten his grip on the championship lead. After missing out on the Sprint win and qualifying second for the Grand Prix, Piastri arrived on Sunday looking to reassert control. When the lights finally went out after a rain-delayed start, he did exactly that. Having started on pole for the Sprint, Piastri joked: 'Spa's probably one of the worst places to have pole position. It is what it is.' On Sunday, from second, he proved himself right. Despite the limitations of the rolling start, he breezed past teammate Norris on the straight in the first racing lap with a clean and confident move. The British driver would later report a battery issue, but by then Piastri had already taken charge. At one stage, it looked as though Norris' one stop strategy might tilt the race in his favour. Piastri, who had stopped a lap earlier for mediums, expressed concern that his tyres would not last the distance. The prospect of a second stop lingered in the background, while Norris, running long on hards, looked to close the gap. But as the laps wore on, Piastri managed his pace, never allowing the threat to fully materialise. Norris gradually closed the gap, reducing Piastri's advantage to under four seconds in the final stint. But small mistakes, such as the one at Pouhon and later at La Source, stalled his momentum just as it began to build. Piastri remained composed and crossed the line 3.415 seconds clear to seal McLaren's sixth one-two finish of the season. 'I knew that Lap 1 was going to be probably my best chance of winning the race,' Piastri said. 'I got a good exit out of Turn 1 and lifted as little as I dared through Eau Rouge, and then it was enough.' Red Bull begin new era without Horner For the first time in over two decades, Red Bull arrived at a Grand Prix without Christian Horner in charge. Laurent Mekies, the French engineer and former Racing Bulls team principal, took the reins for the first time. Speaking on Friday, he acknowledged Horner's legacy and confirmed the two had remained in contact. 'Yes, we have spoken, he has been nothing other than supportive,' Mekies said. 'Even this morning and yesterday, we texted. It's very impressive in the context.' Max Verstappen began the weekend on the front foot, winning the Sprint with a well-timed move on Piastri up the Kemmel Straight and securing his first victory since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May. For Sunday's race, however, Red Bull opted for a higher downforce set up in anticipation of sustained rain. When the race finally got under way after an 80-minute delay and the track dried more quickly than expected, that decision proved costly. Verstappen spent the afternoon chasing Charles Leclerc but lacked the straight line speed to mount a serious challenge, eventually crossing the line in fourth. 'All in all, with the decision making and the set up that we chose with the wing didn't help,' he said. 'P3 was probably the maximum possible with the ideal scenario and, unfortunately, this didn't happen today.' Ferrari's upgrades paying off Ferrari arrived at Spa having implemented another development package, including a revised rear suspension. Building on the new floor rolled out in Austria, the upgrades appeared to offer immediate benefits – at least for Leclerc. He capitalised on the improvements with a composed and consistent weekend, securing his fifth podium of the season and a third straight third-place finish at Spa. 'Max was behind for the whole race, within two seconds, so it is never easy, and the first part of the race was the trickiest for us,' said Leclerc after spending the whole afternoon holding off Verstappen. Hamilton, meanwhile, endured a difficult start to the weekend. He was eliminated in the first round of both Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying, starting near the back in both races and finishing 15th in Saturday's short run. But on Sunday, in mixed conditions and with a pit-lane start, Hamilton produced a dazzling recovery race. Pulling off a string of decisive overtakes in the early laps, he worked his way up to seventh and was voted Driver of the Day. It wasn't the outcome he had hoped for, but it was a determined recovery from a weekend that had come close to falling apart. Russell bemoans 'worst' weekend George Russell left Spa with growing concerns about Mercedes' direction, describing it as the team's worst performance of the season after finishing a distant fifth. He crossed the line nearly 35 seconds behind Piastri and well off the pace of Verstappen's fourth-placed Red Bull. Russell attributed the team's recent struggles to a development shift made earlier in the year, which he now believes has backfired. 'We made a clear change of direction a couple of months ago and it's been since that point we've taken a step backwards,' he said.
