Pakistan thrash Bangladesh in final T20I to secure series whitewash

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Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh by seven wickets in the third T20I at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday night to sweep the series 3-0.

Chasing a challenging 197-run target for victory, Pakistan crossed the finish line with seven wickets and 16 balls to spare despite losing the key wicket of Sahibzada Farhan (1) in the opening over.

Player of the match Mohammad Haris was the top scorer for Pakistan with his career best 107 not out, followed by Saim Ayub, who made a valuable 45. 

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets in Third T20I  

A nerveless century from Mohammad Haris has led Pakistan’s chase of 197 runs to win the 1/3 T20 international cricket match against Bangladesh and a whole 3-0 series win in Lahore. 

Having won the first match after choosing to bowl first, Pakistan asked the traffic to bat first in the third match on Sunday at Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan’s eastern metropolis. 

Given an elaborate goal of 197, Pakistan lost Sahibzada Farhan—their maximum scorer within the 2nd T20I—in the first over to Mehidy Hasan Miraz. 

Even as the Pakistan of old may have crumbled under the pressure of losing a quick wicket, the new-appearance side under younger captain Salman Agha and freshly appointed coach Mike Hesson saved up their scoring rate. 

Saim Ayub and Haris shaped a 92-run partnership as they took on the Bangladeshi bowling attack to preserve a high scoring rate and preserve the goal within sight. 

Ayub was dismissed within the tenth over by Tanzim Hasan Sakib after scoring 45 runs off 29 balls, but by then, Haris had taken on the role of the main hitter and kept the big shots coming. 

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The wicketkeeper-batter hit seven sixes and eight fours in his 46-ball 107, which saved Bangladesh out of competition for most of Pakistan’s innings. 

He was all smiles as he accepted the player of the match award and said that despite not appearing properly for Pakistan in the recent past, he kept working hard. 

“I tried to learn from my mistakes and didn’t want to waste this possibility that I got to play in this series,” he stated. 

Haris added that he batted with the easy plan of “see ball, play ball” and didn’t want to play any useless shots. 

Earlier, Bangladesh’s innings had gotten off to a swift start when Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan overpowered Pakistan’s opening bowlers Ayub and Faheem Ashraf. 

They set up an opening stand of 110, but the Bangladeshi batting lineup derailed quickly after Tanzid’s departure in the eleventh over. 

Despite starts from Captain Litton Das (22 runs) and Towhid Hridoy (25 runs), the Tigers had been unable to keep the scoring pace set by the openers. 

A complete score of 196-6 in 20 overs ensured the home team confronted some pressure after they came out to bat; however, Pakistan’s array of attacking batters noticed scoreboard pressure and took their team home with 16 balls to spare. 

Pakistan’s skipper Salman, present alongside Haris when the winning runs were scored, expressed his joy at his team’s steadiness.  

“We want to check ourselves in which matters emerge as hard, and we want to chase to place the boys under pressure,” Salman explained after the match. The 3-0 series sweep became Pakistan’s first since 2021.