Bangladesh suffer a seven-wicket loss against Pakistan

Pakistan batters paced their innings well as they successfully chased 174 against Bangladesh to hand the Tigers a seven-wicket defeat in the tri-nation series at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch today.

Bangladesh bowlers were economical at the start but once openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan got going and combined to a century stand, things looked ominous for the Tigers. And despite two wickets in an over from rookie pacer Hasan Mahmud bringing life back into the Tigers' camp and Mohammad Rizwan getting out in the last ball of the 19th over after scoring 69 off 55 balls, Pakistan made the chase look easy.

Pakistan eventually reached their target with a delivery to spare, riding on fifties from their two openers and a 20-ball 45 blitz from Mohammad Nawaz, who struck a boundary as the winning runs.   

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan run between the wickets. Photo: AFP

Earlier in the first innings, Bangladesh posted 173 for six after 20 overs, courtesy of a 55-ball 80-run stand between Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan who both quick-fired their way to 65-plus knocks.   

Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan run between the wickets. Photo: AFP

In reply, following a slow start, Pakistan's opening duo picked up the pace in the second half of Powerplay, scoring 33 runs in three overs during which Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Saifuddin Ahmed all conceded two boundaries in their overs. However, after the Bangladesh captain introduced himself in the bowling, the asking rate crept up over 10 as Pakistan were 73 for no loss at halfway in their chase.

Babar reached his fifty off 37 balls with a boundary of right-arm medium-pacer Saifuddin, who ended up conceding over 50 runs in 3.5 overs. On the other hand, Hasan, who returned to the side in place of Mosaddek Hossain, was reintroduced in the innings' 13th over and the pacer removed Babar and bowled Haider Ali for a duck in his third over.  

Hasan Mahmud and Nurul Hasan Sohan celebrate a dismissal. Photo: AFP

Bangladesh, thus, end their tri-nation campaign by losing all four games in the tournament. 

Pakistan and hosts New Zealand will lock horns in the final tomorrow.