Bangladesh were very close to a consolation win in the Twenty20 international of their three-match series against Pakistan after conceding the series, but a last-ball boundary from Mohammad Nawaz saw Pakistan win the match by five wickets and the series 3-0.
Batting first, Bangladesh put up 124-7 on board. Mohammad Naim top scored with 47.
In reply, Pakistan were on their way to a comfortable win, but some good death bowling from Bangladesh saw them requiring eight off the last over.
With no other bowler in hand, Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad stepped up and in his first three balls, he picked up a couple of wickets and did not give a run.
But Iftikhar Ahmed hit a six in the fourth delivery to bring it down to two runs off two, and then was out in the next delivery.
With two required off one, the last ball saw some great drama before being bowled. First, Mahmudullah bowled the delivery but Nawaz moved away very late to see the ball called dead. The ball hit the stumps, and there was protest from the Bangladesh players but Mahmudullah accepted the umpire’s call.
Nawaz then hit a four over extra cover in the final delivery to secure the series 3-0 for Pakistan.
Earlier, Najmul Hossain was sent as an opener along with Naim, he did not trouble the scorers much and became the first international wicket of Shahnawaz Dahani who bowled him beautifully for five.
Shamim Hossain was sent at number three, he tried his best to score some quick runs by his blind hitting but fell in the trap of the leg-spinner Usman Qadir after he came to bowl his first over.
Mahmudullah added a struggling 13, Afif added 20, and altogether Bangladesh managed to score 124-7 in 20 overs.
