Sahibzada Farhan and Hassan Nawaz's blazing fifties, and Abrar Ahmad's 3-wicket haul guided Pakistan to secure a convincing 57-run victory over Bangladesh in the second T20i held at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
After winning the second T20i match consecutively, Pakistan have claimed the three-match series by 2-0.
The Bangladeshi batting lineup faltered under pressure, managing only 144 runs in 19 overs despite a fighting half-century from Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Chasing 202, Bangladesh's innings never quite found momentum.
Skipper Liton Das departed early after scoring just 6 runs, followed by Touhid Hridoy, who was dismissed for a mere 5.
The middle order showed some resistance—Tanzim Hasan Sakib stood out with a commendable 50-run knock laced with five sixes, while Tanzid Hasan contributed 33 runs and Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with 23.
However, their efforts were not enough to bring the team close to the target.
Pakistan's bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings.
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed led the attack with an impressive three-wicket haul.
He was well supported by pacers Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, and Haris Rauf, who each took one wicket and effectively restricted the Bangladeshi batsmen from building any significant partnerships.
With this win, Pakistan have won the series. The final match of the series is scheduled to be played on June 1.
Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan led the Pakistan charge with a scintillating 74-run innings off just 41 balls.
His aggressive knock featured a flurry of sixes and fours, setting the tone for the rest of the innings.
Alongside him, Mohammad Haris also contributed significantly with a solid 40-run performance, further stabilizing the innings.
However, it was young power-hitter Hassan Nawaz who provided the explosive finish.
Remaining unbeaten on 51 off just 26 balls, his innings included three towering sixes and two boundaries, propelling the team to an impressive total.
Earlier, opener Saim Ayub fell victim to an unfortunate run-out after scoring just 4 runs while attempting a risky third run.
Captain Salman Ali Agha managed to score only 19 runs before being dismissed.
From the bowling side, Bangladesh’s Liton Das XI struggled to contain the flow of runs.
However, Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Rishad Hossain each claimed a wicket, offering some resistance in an otherwise tough outing for their bowlers.
Earlier, Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha expressed confidence ahead of the match, emphasizing the team's intent to build a commanding total and increase pressure on the visitors.
Speaking to the media before the start of play, Salman said the pitch once again appears to be in excellent condition, offering a good opportunity for the batters to post a significant score.
“Our goal is to put up a big total and keep Bangladesh under pressure,” said Salman Agha.
He added that the team remains focused on executing its plans effectively and capitalizing on the favorable pitch conditions.
A key change has been made in the playing XI for the match, with Sahibzada Farhan replacing injured opener Fakhar Zaman, he remarked.
The hosts would look to win the game to seal the series after defeating Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first game at the same venue earlier this week.
Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Litton Das (c & wk), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain Patwary, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam
Pakistan: Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha (c) Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk)