MIRPUR, Bangladesh: A brilliant century from Tanzid Hasan powered Bangladesh to a competitive total of 290-5 against Pakistan in the third and final One-Day International on Sunday.
The match is being played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, with the three-match series level at 1-1.
Bangladesh elected to bat first and built a strong platform through their top order before accelerating in the final overs to set Pakistan a target of 291.
Strong opening partnership
Bangladesh made an aggressive start as openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan dominated the early stages of the innings.
The pair added 105 runs for the first wicket, frustrating Pakistan’s bowlers and placing the hosts in a commanding position.
Runs came freely as both batters rotated the strike and punished loose deliveries.
Pakistan finally broke the partnership when captain Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Saif for 36 off 55 balls. His knock included three boundaries.
Tanzid, however, continued to anchor the innings and brought up his sixth ODI half-century as Bangladesh crossed the 100-run mark.
Tanzid reaches maiden ODI century
After Saif’s dismissal, Tanzid found support from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
The pair added another steady partnership to keep the momentum with Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s Haris Rauf provided the breakthrough by dismissing Shanto for 27 off 34 balls, leaving Bangladesh at 158-2 in 29.2 overs.
Tanzid continued his impressive form and eventually reached his maiden ODI century.
His innings ended when Abrar Ahmed dismissed him for 107 off 107 balls.
The innings included six fours and seven sixes and came at a crucial stage of the match.
In the final phase of the innings, Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy stabilised the innings and accelerated the scoring.
The pair added 68 runs for the fourth wicket, helping Bangladesh cross the 250-run mark in the 45th over.
Das was eventually dismissed for 41 off 51 balls after being caught off the bowling of Haris Rauf.
Soon after, Rauf struck again by clean bowling Rishad Hossain for a duck.
Towhid Hridoy remained unbeaten on 48 off 44 balls, striking four boundaries, while Afif Hossain contributed five runs as Bangladesh finished with 290-5 in their 50 overs.
Rauf leads Pakistan bowling
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 3-52 in his 10 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed picked up one wicket each, while Faheem Ashraf bowled the final overs and conceded just eight runs.
Pakistan now need 291 runs to win the match and clinch the series.
