Pakistan managed to seal a series whitewash against Bangladesh in a low scoring affair in Chittagong.
After being bowled out for 177 in just 46.1 overs, Pakistan then went on to return the favour by bowling out their opponents for a mere 119 on a day where the bowlers took control.
The Pakistan innings got off to a rocky start with the loss of Hafeez in the just first over of the game off the bowling of Islam for zero. The Bangladesh team certainly looked up for a fight as they tried to salvage a bit of pride in a series that had already passed them by. This brought Younis Khan to crease who was one of only three men in the entire innings to make double figures.
Pakistani opener Shafiq battled hard but never looked comfortable and he was put out of his misery by Al Hasan who removed him for a scratchy 7 off 23 balls. This brought to the crease Misbah-ul-Haq who was the Pakistani’s second top scorer with 47 from 89 balls. Hardly a fluent innings from the classy number three batsmen.
Younis Khan was dismissed for 26 but Pakistan kicked on with the introduction Umar Akmal. Both ul-Haq and Akmal put on 94 for the 4th wicket before both were dismissed in quick succession from the bowling of Razzak and Elias Sunny respectively.
This brought the Pakistan collapse however and from a promising situation of 133-3 they were later bowled out for a dismal 177 with no player after Akmal managing to get into double figures. Mahmuddal retuned stand out figures of 3-4 from just 1.1 overs whilst Razzaq also chipped in with 3-21 from his allotted 10.
Finally the Bangladesh team could smell blood and anyone live cricket betting were starting to fancy an upset here in Chittagong.
However it was another disappointing batting display from the Bangladesh team as they managed to muster just 119 all out and never really looked like staging a fightback. The writing was probably on the wall early when star batsmen Iqbal was bowled first ball of their innings with the team never really recovering from that.
The second wicket partnership of 69 gave them hope but after both Nafees and Mahmuddal – who performed heroics earlier on with the ball – fell in quick time the Pakistani attack continued to rip through the Bangladeshi’s with 3 wickets a piece for Hafeez and Malik.
The Pakistani victory seals an easy series win and sets them up nicely for the challenge they will face in Dubai against England in the new year. That looks to be a much sterner test, especially over the longer format of the game, but the Pakistan team are resurgent and the fresh faced team seem to be gelling well.