Bangladesh secured their fourth T20 victory against Pakistan — all of which have come while chasing. Yesterday’s win was a record-breaking one, as the Tigers achieved it with the most balls to spare.
In 2015, Bangladesh had chased down a target with 22 balls remaining, winning by 7 wickets. This time, they also won by 7 wickets, but with a record 27 balls to spare. It is now Bangladesh’s biggest win over former world champions Pakistan in T20Is.
All four of Bangladesh’s wins against Pakistan have come while chasing — one at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and the other three at Mirpur. Bangladesh’s first win against Pakistan came in 2015, a one-off T20I series at Mirpur, where they won by 7 wickets with 22 balls to spare — the biggest win at the time. The second win came in the 2016 Asia Cup, a 5-wicket victory. Yesterday’s 7-wicket win, achieved with 27 balls remaining, is now the most dominant.
This marked the third consecutive T20I win for Liton Das’s side, following two back-to-back wins over Sri Lanka. The match against the 2009 T20 World Cup champions not only saw Bangladesh chase down a target successfully but also bowl Pakistan out for their lowest total against Bangladesh.
“Fizz” — Mustafizur Rahman — set a record for the most economical spell by a Bangladeshi bowler in T20Is. Coming in as the fourth bowler, the left-arm pacer gave away just 6 runs in 4 overs, recording the spell: 4-0-6-0, including 18 dot balls. The previous record for fewest runs conceded in 4 overs by a Bangladeshi was 7 — jointly held by Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Sakib, and Mustafiz himself. Globally, the most economical spell in T20Is remains New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson’s 4-4-0-3.
On Mustafiz’s record-setting day, Pakistan were bowled out for just 110 in 19.3 overs — their lowest total in 23 T20Is against Bangladesh. Their previous lowest was 129/7.
Before this match, Liton Das had lost 9 tosses in a row. With one change in the playing XI, he finally won the toss in the 10th match and opted to field on the slow Mirpur pitch. With disciplined bowling from Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Sakib, and Mustafiz, Pakistan were restricted to 110 runs. Fakhar Zaman top-scored for Pakistan with 44 runs. Taskin took 3 wickets for 22 runs.
Chasing 111, Bangladesh were in early trouble at 7/2 in 2.2 overs, losing Tanzid Tamim and captain Liton Das. But the third-wicket partnership between Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy, who added 73 runs off 61 balls, steadied the chase. Hridoy scored 36 off 37 before getting out, while Parvez remained unbeaten on 56 off 39 balls, smashing 3 fours and 5 sixes. Zakir Ali Anik sealed the win with a boundary.
