Lightning stops play after Bangladesh lose three
Play has been stopped due to lightning and windy conditions just 6.3 overs into Bangladesh’s reply to Pakistan’s 274 in the second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today.
At the time of the stoppage, the hosts were in a spot of bother as they three down for 27 runs on the board. Litton Das is unbeaten on 13 while Tawhid Hridoy is yet to get off the mark.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. For Pakistan, skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi struck twice and Mohammad Wasim has struck once.
Bangladesh bundle out Pakistan for 274 after Maaz, Agha fifties
Bangladesh bowlers staged a strong comeback to bundle out Pakistan for 274 in 47.3 overs, despite half-centuries from Maaz Sadaqat and Salman Ali Agha in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.
Maaz struck a brisk 75 off 46 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes for his maiden fifty in the format, while Agha scored 64 off 62 balls as Pakistan appeared on course for a big total after reaching 231-3 in the 39th over.
However, Bangladesh fought back strongly, aided by a couple of run-outs, as the visitors lost their last seven wickets for just 43 runs and were bowled out well short of the 300-run mark.
Pakistan’s innings began to unravel when Agha was run out by Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz, ending a promising 109-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Rizwan, who made 44.
The dramatic moment came when Rizwan pushed Miraz’s flatter delivery towards the bowler’s right. Miraz moved across and stopped the ball with his boot while Agha stood directly in his path.
As the ball trickled to a halt near their feet, Agha, who was out of his crease, bent down to pick it up to return it to Miraz. But the Bangladesh captain reacted quickly, grabbed the ball and underarmed it onto the stumps, catching Agha out of his ground.
On-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed referred the decision to the third umpire, who confirmed that the ball was still in play and Miraz’s action was legitimate.
Agha, however, appeared unhappy with the decision and exchanged heated words with wicketkeeper Litton Das while walking back to the dressing room.
Earlier, Pakistan got off to a flying start, thanks to openers Maaz and Sahibzada Farhan, who added 103 runs inside 13 overs before Miraz provided the breakthrough by dismissing Maaz.
Farhan departed for 31 soon after, while Shamyl Hussain managed just six as Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana claimed a wicket each.
Rizwan and Agha then steadied the innings, putting Pakistan in a strong position before the dramatic run-out triggered a batting collapse.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain finished as the most successful bowler with 3-56, while Miraz was the most economical, returning figures of 2-34.
Bangladesh’s pacers were relatively expensive on the day, with all three seamers picking up one wicket each but conceding runs at over 5.90 per over.
Miraz ends Sadaqat blitz after Pakistan race to 100
Pakistan raced to 100 for no loss in the 13th over before Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz put an end to a blazing 75-run knock from Maaz Sadaqat at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Friday.
The visitors, asked to bat first, are 121 for two after 18 overs.
Playing the role of the aggressor, Sadaqat hit six fours and five sixes in a 45-ball stay, while his opening partner Sahibzada Farhan -- also playing only his second ODI match -- stayed cautious for a 46-ball 31 before Taskin Ahmed tempted the batter to go for a big shot, only to end up mistiming it.
Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana, whose five scalps helped bundle out Pakistan for 114 in Wednesday’s series opener, went for runs today -- least economical so far -- conceding 32 runs off three overs.
Unchanged Bangladesh to bowl first in second ODI
Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss for the second successive time and elected to bowl first again against Pakistan in the second match of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.
Bangladesh went into the game with an unchanged side from their first game while Pakistan made one change as they brought in pacer Haris Rauf in place of leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.
The hosts are currently leading the series 1-0 after they beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the series opener at the same venue on Wednesday.
If Bangladesh can win today's match, they will not only confirm winning the series but also climb to number nine position in the ICC ODI rankings, leapfrogging West Indies, and will be in the position for the automatic berth in the 2027 ICC World Cup.
Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana.
Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Shaheen Shah Afridi (c).
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