Pakistan clinch one-day series
Pakistan’s spinners revelled in helpful conditions to crush
Bangladesh by 58 runs in the third and final one-day international on
Tuesday to win the series 3-0.
The tourists, bowled out for a modest 177, hit back to dismiss
Bangladesh for 119 on a wicket that turned and bounced at the Zahur
Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in the port city of Chittagong.
Shoaib Malik marked his 200th one-day appearance with three wickets
for six runs in four overs and fellow off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez picked
up three for 27 as the Tigers were shot out in 38 overs.
It was Pakistan’s 28th win in 29 one-dayers against Bangladesh,
boosting the confidence of Misbah-ul-Haq’s men ahead of the two-Test
series starting on Friday.
The match was interrupted for 20 minutes in the second session when
the floodlights went off, plunging the entire stadium into total
darkness.
Bangladesh were sailing smoothly at 69-1 in the 20th over when five
wickets crashed for 14 runs to allow Pakistan to bounce back in the
match.
“This was a really tough game,” said a relieved Misbah. “But when
there is self-belief you manage to get through.
“Our bowlers did wonderfully well but we need to improve our batting.
Bangladesh had lost only one wicket when the lights went out and we were
feeling a little low.
“But our coaches (Mohsin Khan and Ijaz Ahmed) assured us the game was
not over and one more wicket would bring us back. That is what
happened.”
Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim blamed his team’s batting for the
series whitewash.
“Our bowlers did well all through the series, but our batsmen let us
down,” he said. “Hopefully we will overcome this loss and perform better
in the Test matches.”
Bangladesh lost opener Tamim Iqbal off the first ball of the innings,
bowled by Hafeez, before Shahriar Nafees and Mohammad Mahmudullah put on
69 for the second wicket.
The home team lost Nafees (25), Rahim (0) and Mahmudullah (35) in the
space of three runs - all leg-before to the spinners - to slide to 72-4
by the 22nd over. Chittagong,AFP
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