Ruthless Pakistan drubbed Bangladesh by 76 runs in the second one-day international in Dhaka on Saturday to take a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Umar Akmal scored 59 and Shahid Afridi hit 42 off 27 balls as Pakistan piled up 262-7 after they won the toss and elected to bat in the day-night match at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. The total proved beyond Bangladesh’s reach after they were reduced to 19-4 in the 10th over, and managed only 186-7 despite a maiden international century from Nasir Hossain.
Nasir cracked 100 and Shakib Al Hasan made 34, the pair sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 106 runs, but Bangladesh were never in the hunt against the tight Pakistani bowling. The 20-year-old Nasir, playing only his ninth one-dayer, plundered 11 boundaries and a six before he was dismissed in the final over. Seamer Umar Gul finished with four for 36, while off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez conceded just 15 runs in his 10 overs with two wickets.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim saluted Nasir’s effort, saying the youngster showed his team-mates how to compile an innings. “I am very disappointed the way we played, but Nasir deserves a lot of praise,” said Rahim. “He showed us how to bat on this pitch. “But it’s time we start playing as a team. Everyone has to contribute.” Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq said the win proved his team was becoming formidable. “It’s really pleasing that the guys are doing such a good job,” he said. “It was a big enough total because it was not the best wicket to bat on.” Pakistan’s 27th win over the Tigers in 28 one-dayers has left only academic interest in the third and final match to be played in the port city of Chittagong on Tuesday.
The one-dayers will be followed by two Test matches. Pakistan had won the Twenty20 international by 50 runs and the first one-dayer by five wickets at the same venue. Hafeez, who opened Pakistan’s attack, removed Imrul Kayes and Shahriar Nafees in successive overs after Gul had dismissed the aggressive Tamim Iqbal in his second over. Gul also had Rahim caught at gully, before Nasir and Shakib delayed the inevitable with their century partnership. Pakistan’s innings revolved around a fourth-wicket stand of 83 between Akmal and Misbah (37), before Afridi smashed two sixes and three boundaries towards the end to boost the total. Hafeez (32) and Younis Khan (37) put on 57 for the second wicket after opener Imran Farhat had fallen in the third over. Akmal lifted the tempo by reaching his 11th one-day half-century off 49 balls.
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has admitted that batting remains an area of concern for Pakistan and that there is a lot of scope for improvement. Misbah said the way Pakistan batting collapsed in the Twenty20 match and the first one-day international against Bangladesh, proves there is cause for concern and that the batsmen need to iron out their weaknesses if they are to improve. “It is a matter of concern as we have failed to still come to terms with the different pitch conditions in Bangladesh,” said Misbah.
