BD clinch T20I series against Pak

Wicketkeeper batter Jaker Ali's gutsy half-century, followed by a collective bowling effort, led Bangladesh to a historic victory over Pakistan in the second T20I of the three-match series here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.

The victory helped Bangladesh to register their first-ever series triumph over Pakistan in the format.

Set to chase a modest 134-run target, Pakistan's batting unit unfolded on 126 on the second delivery of the final over.

The Green Shirts had an agonising start to their innings as their opener Saim Ayub (one) got run out in the first over with just four runs on the board.

His dismissal was followed by a scathing middle-order collapse, which saw Pakistan lose four more wickets in quick succession and thus be reduced to 15/5 in 4.4 overs.

Following the debacle, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha (nine) and all-rounder Khushdil Shah put together a cautious 15-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which culminated in the 10th over with the former's dismissal.

Khushdil then shared a 17-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Faheem Ashraf until eventually falling victim to Mahedi Hasan in the 12th over after scoring 13 off 18 deliveries.

His dismissal had further reduced Pakistan to 47/7 in 11.5 overs, with 87 runs further required off 49 deliveries.

Faheem was then joined by Abbas Afridi in the middle, and the duo battled hard to prevent Pakistan from succumbing to their lowest total in T20Is by knitting a 41-run partnership.

The duo had brought Pakistan in the hunt as the equation had come down to 46 runs required off 24 deliveries with three wickets in hand.

But Shoriful Islam bamboozled Abbas on the first delivery of his final over to break the crucial stand. Abbas scored 19 off 13 deliveries with the help of two fours and a six.

Faheem was then involved in another crucial partnership for Pakistan when he added 33 runs for the ninth wicket with Daniyal Ahmed until eventually falling victim to Rishad Hossain on the last delivery of the penultimate over.

He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with 51 off 32 deliveries, laced with four fours and as many sixes.

Daniyal kept Pakistan's hopes alive by hitting Mustafizur Rahman for a boundary on the first delivery of the final over, reducing the required equation to nine off five.

But Rahman deceived Daniyal with a slower delivery, who holed it straight to deep midwicket. He made an important contribution with an 11-ball 17, featuring three fours.

Shoriful Islam was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, taking three wickets for 17 runs in his four overs.

Earlier, Pacers Salman Mirza and debutant Ahmed Daniyal grabbed two wickets apiece to restrict Bangladesh to 133 all out in the second Twenty20 international in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Mirza finished with 2-17 and Daniyal took 2-23 after Pakistan won the toss and sent Bangladesh into bat on another slow-paced pitch.

Jaker Ali hit a fiery 48-ball 55 for his third T20I fifty, smashing five sixes and a boundary before holing out off the final delivery of the 20th over.

Fast bowler Abbas Afridi also grabbed 2-37.

Bangladesh lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first match — also at the same venue — by seven wickets.

Bangladesh had lost four wickets by sixth over for 28 before Jaker and Mahedi Hasan revived the innings with a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Mahedi scored a 25-ball 33 with two sixes and as many boundaries.