Pakistan clinched an easy victory over Bangladesh in the second game of the three-match T20I series in Dhaka on November 20, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead against the hosts.
Bowlers led the way on another dry, spin-friendly track for Pakistan as they restricted Bangladesh to just 108/7 in the first half and then chased down the paltry 109-run target with eight wickets intact and nearly two overs remaining in the innings.
Spinners Shadab Khan (2/22) and Mohammad Nawaz (1/25) enjoyed their time out in the middle against a Bangladesh batting unit woefully short of depth and T20 skills. Shaheen Afridi (2/15) was also amongst the wickets.
In a sorry-looking scorecard, only two of the Bangladeshi batters made it past the 20-run mark. Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 40 off 34 deliveries. But the rest of the batting unit could never put the pressure back on the Pakistani attack, where Mohammad Wasim Jr (1/9) and Haris Rauf (1/13) also gave them next to no respite.
A commanding first half laid the foundation for a comfortable second half for Pakistan. Chasing less than five and a half per over, they focused on cutting down risks in the quest to secure another victory. Mohammad Rizwan (39) and Fakhar Zaman (57*) stitched together a partnership of 85 for the second wicket after the early departure of skipper Babar Azam (1).
Near the finish, Pakistan lost Rizwan and sent Haider Ali (6) to take them home with Fakhar at the other end. The left-hander took control of things and made a watchful fifty that never allowed Bangladesh to build inroads.
Bangladesh used as many as eight bowlers in their innings that lasted 18.1 overs. Mustafizur Rahman (1/12) and Aminul Islam (1/30) took a wicket apiece. There were tight spells from Mahedi Hasan (0/23) and Taskin Ahmed (0/22). But, let down by their batting unit, Bangladeshi bowlers were always fighting a lost cause.
Brief scores
Bangladesh 108/7 in 20 overs (Shanto 40; Afridi 2/21, Khan 2/22) lost to Pakistan 109/2 in 18.1 overs (Zaman 57*, Rizwan 39; Rahman 1/12) by 8 wickets
