Shoriful, Tanzim help Bangladesh seal first ever T20I series win against Pakistan

Bangladesh completed their first T20I series win against Pakistan, after prevailing in an eight-run win in the second game. The packed Shere Bangla National Stadium got a thrilling finish with the hosts staving off a late Faheem Ashraf onslaught.

Pakistan's top six couldn't reach double digits in this game, with five having missed out in similar fashion in the previous outing too. This time it was their bottom-half that gave them some hope. Ashraf top scored with his maiden T20I half-century, having added 41 runs for the ninth wicket with Abbas Afridi.

Bangladesh however kept their cool, particularly their pace trio of Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Hasan putting pressure on the visitors. Bangladesh's start with the ball put them well in front, which also ultimately helped them get the win in the end.

Pakistan couldn't have asked for a worse start to their 134-run chase as they slumped to 15 for 5, their lowest score after losing their first five wickets. Saim Ayub was run out in the first over after Rishad Hossain fielded superbly at deep point to create a mix-up between the two openers.

Shoriful, replacing Taskin Ahmed for the match, struck with his third ball next over. He had Mohammad Haris pinned in front with a late-moving in-ducker for a golden duck. Fakhar Zaman, who top scored in the first T20I, fell in Shoriful's next over, caught down the leg-side for 8.

Tanzim's double blow in the fifth over put Bangladesh further ahead. He had both Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz caught behind off consecutive deliveries, both falling for ducks.

Pakistan looked doomed at 47 for 7 in the 12th over. With batters running out at the other end, Ashraf chose this point to launch into the Bangladesh attack. He had already slammed Mahedi over long-on for his first six before smashing Rishad for a four and two sixes in a 20-run over. Pakistan were in with a chance needing 52 off the last five overs.

Shoriful removed Abbas Afridi at the start of the 17th over, but three balls later Ashraf slammed his third six. Shoriful could have settled matters by the end of the over, but Tanzim dropped a straightforward chance running in from long-on, with Ashraf on 38.

Debutant Ahmed Daniyal picked up two fours off Rishad before Ashraf brought up his fifty with a six over long-on but fell next ball to a delivery that kept low. With 13 needed off the final over, Daniyal struck Mustafizur's first ball for four but was then caught at the deep midwicket boundary, with Shamim Hossain taking the all-important catch.

Ashraf had also given Pakistan their first breakthrough of the match, before their rookies Salman Mirza and Daniyal rocked Bangladesh. Mirza had Litton Das caught in the deep before Towhid Hridoy was run out in the fifth over. Daniyal got into the act in the next over when Parvez Hossain Emon struck the ball down mid-on's throat for 13. The dangerous Shamim also fell to Daniyal, when he inside edged in the 16th over.

Bangladesh usually expect Jaker Ali to get them out of trouble, and that's exactly what he did. He waited seven overs before looking for his first big hit, as Bangladesh were reduced to 28 for 4. He started with a mow across the line, that caught the middle of his bat, landing deep into the backward square leg stands.

Jaker added 53 runs for the fifth wicket with Mahedi Hasan, who contributed with 33 off 25 balls, with the help of two sixes. After he fell to Mohammad Nawaz in the 14th over, Jaker went for broke. He walloped Daniyal over midwicket for his second six, before Bangladesh lost three more wickets. Shamim, Tanzim and Rishad fell quickly, leaving Jaker with just the last two batters to work with.

He struck three more sixes, depositing two more over midwicket, and then the last one down the ground to bring up his fifty. Those last few sixes boosted Bangladesh to an above-par T20I score at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.