Christchurch, Oct 13: Mohammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam shared a 101-run opening partnership as Pakistan edged Bangladesh by seven wickets with one ball remaining Thursday at the New Zealand Twenty20 cricket tri-series.
Babar made 55 and Rizwan went on to 68 to help guide Pakistan past Bangladesh’s total of 173-6. Pakistan lost Babar’s wicket and another in the 13th over and had to rely on Mohammad Nawaz, who struck an unbeaten 45 from 20 balls to close out the win.
There was a flicker of concern when Rizwan holed out in the deep in the 19th over with Pakistan needing nine from seven balls. At the start of the last over it needed eight from six balls but with seven wickets in hand and Nawaz still at the crease, Pakistan was in command.
Asif Ali took a streaky single from the first ball and Nawaz played an overhead tennis shot from the second ball for two. Nawaz continued to find gaps in the field for two runs until a four behind point by Nawaz from the fifth ball of the over clinched the win.
The match was the last in the round-robin section of the tri-series and came after the tournament finalists already had been determined. Pakistan and New Zealand will meet in the final on Friday.
Bangladesh finished the tournament without a win but picked up momentum ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia. The team’s total on Thursday was its best of the tournament and its third-best against Pakistan in a T20 international. Litton Das made 69 and captain Shakib Al Hasan 68 to provide 137 runs out of Bangladesh’s total of 173-6. (AP)
