Pride at stake as Bangladesh look to get one over the line

Sanjida Islam and Nigar Sultana were motoring along in a 57-run stand while chasing a tall target of 168 in the second T20I on Monday (October 28). They had brought the required run rate to below 10 runs per over. Bismah Maroof, in search of breaking the partnership, turned to Sadia Iqbal, who was playing only her second T20I. Iqbal sent both the batters back in the hut within a space of eight balls to swing the match in favour of Pakistan.



That has been the story so far for Bangladesh in this series. Not converting the partnerships into match-winning ones. Lack of partnerships has cost them two games. In both the matches the margin of defeats were 14 and 15 runs respectively. In the second T20I, the bowlers copped a fair bit of hammering from Maroof and Javeria Khan. The spinners Khadija Tul Kubra, Rumana Ahmed and Salma Khatun, who control the middle phase of the innings so well for Bangladesh, went for plenty (77 runs in nine overs).



The shining light for Bangladesh has been Jahanara Alam. The tall right-arm medium pacer has been relentless with accuracy and control, picking up crucial wickets at critical stages of the innings. Her four-wicket haul almost sealed the deal in favour of the team in the first T20I. In the second game, too, she picked up two wickets to limit the damage. Bangladesh will surely want the pacer to step up one more time in the third T20I.



For Pakistan, the performance is getting better and better in each game. Maroof and Khan made sure they cashed in on the start to put up a huge score on board. The rotation of strike of the duo and the use of feet to the spinners were an absolute masterclass in batting. Maroof initially slow, to begin with, blossomed in the company of Khan and when the latter was dismissed for 52 the skipper duly accelerated at the end to give Pakistan a good total. The skipper was unconquered on 70 - a knock that included nine fours and one six.



Speaking about hunting in pairs Maharoof and Khan have added 1204 runs in 40 innings, the most by a pair for Pakistan in T20Is.



Sana Mir who returned for the second T20I went for 35 runs and she would be eager to make a mark in the last match of the three-match series. The usual suspects Diana Baig, Aliya Riaz and Anam Amin have played their roles to perfection chipping with wickets and keeping the batters under a tight leash. Pakistan will look to close off the series and try to inflict a whitewash on the visitors.



The third T20I on Wednesday (October 30) promises to be a good one as Bangladesh will try to get one over their opponents while Pakistan would not want to get complacent after clinching the series and look to close out the series on a high.



Squads:



Pakistan: Bismah Maroof (c), Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Iram Javed, Javeria Khan, Kainat Imtiaz, Nahida Khan, Omaima Sohail, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz



Bangladesh: Salma Khatun (c), Ayesha Rahman, Ekka Mollik, Fargana Hoque, Jahanara Alam, Khadija Tul Kubra, Lata Mondal, Nigar Sultana, Panna Ghosh, Rumana Ahmed, Sanjida Islam, Shamima Sultana, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Sharmin Akhter, Sharmin Sultana