Pakistan Dominates Bangladesh in Second T20I, Eyes Series Sweep
Packed stands at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium watched a fired-up Pakistan side put on a show in the second T20I, brushing aside Bangladesh by 57 runs and stretching their lead to 2-0 in the best-of-three series. The hosts stormed to a hefty 201/6 after being sent in to bat, making it clear this was not going to be an easy outing for the visitors.
Pakistan's opening duo set the pace early, but it was Sahibzada Farhan who stole the spotlight with a whirlwind 74 off just 41 balls. His innings, a blend of clean hitting and smart placement, gave Pakistan exactly the kind of start they wanted. The Bangladesh bowlers – especially Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Shoriful Islam, who snatched two wickets each – tried to claw things back in the middle overs, but the platform was already set. Cameos from the middle order ensured the run rate never dipped, and Pakistan finished strong despite some late wickets.
Bangladesh’s chase was never on stable ground. The visitors lost early wickets and couldn’t gather momentum against some tight, relentless bowling. Abrar Ahmed was the undisputed star with the ball, using variations to rip through the Bangladesh lineup and collect a tidy 3/19 from his four overs. Only Tanzim Hasan Sakib looked threatening, firing a brisk 50 from 31 balls, but his knock was ultimately a lone battle against the odds. The rest of the batting folded, with Bangladesh ending at 144 after 19 overs.
- Sahibzada Farhan’s knock featured 9 boundaries and 3 sixes, catapulting him into the spotlight as one of series’ top performers.
- Pakistan's bowlers maintained composure even in pressure overs; apart from Abrar, the likes of Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi kept things miserly when it counted.
- Tanzim Hasan Sakib, while emerging as a rare bright spot for Bangladesh with both bat and ball, didn’t get enough support from the rest of his side.
This result builds on Pakistan’s earlier 37-run triumph in the first match, where experienced quick Hasan Ali ran through Bangladesh’s order with a five-wicket haul. The home team’s mix of youth and experience is clicking at just the right time, which will be important with the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup looming on the horizon.
Focus Shifts to the Finale and Future Tournaments
The two teams aren’t just playing for the present — there’s a keen eye on long-term preparation. Pakistan, with a series win now locked up, is aiming for a clean sweep in the final match on June 1, 2025. This dominance on home turf gives them a morale boost and a chance to test squad depth against a South Asian rival. Bangladesh, meanwhile, finds itself searching for answers, especially with their batting lacking spine in both games.
For players like Farhan, Abrar, and Sakib, these matches are more than just about numbers in the record book. Solid performances right now could cement their spots in the squads for the big-ticket tournaments coming up. The final game of this series isn’t just a dead rubber — expect both teams to approach it with intent, knowing future selection and confidence could ride on these results.
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