BAN vs PAK 3rd T20I Commentary - Mirpur (22 November 2021)

DOT! What a start for Mahmudullah. Slightly fuller, tossed up, around off, spins in slightly with extra bounce, Sarfaraz Ahmed looks to sweep it away but misses and gets hit on the body. 

OUT! TAKEN! Bangladesh are not going to make this easy for Pakistan as Mahmudullah gets a wicket now. The pressure is on the visitors right now. Mahmudullah bowls this slightly shorter, around off, Sarfaraz Ahmed gets on his knees and slog-sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket. It looks like it has gone all the way but Mohammad Naim right near the ropes gobbles this one up. 8 needed in 4 now! 

OUT! CAUGHT! Two-in-two and Pakistan are falling apart right at the end. The skipper is delivering and Bangladesh are well on course to win this game. Mahmudullah comes 'round the wicket and serves a slightly shorter ball, around middle, Haider Ali backs away and tonks this one towards long on. It does not look like it has been timed all that well and it goes straight to Najmul Hossain Shanto, who takes it, the ball pops out, but he manages to hold on. 8 needed in 3 now and Mahmudullah is on a hat-trick now! 

SIX! WOW! Iftikhar Ahmed delivers for the visitors! No hat-trick for Mahmudullah and Ahmed completely smashes this one. This is bowled fuller now, around off, Iftikhar Ahmed gets low and smokes this one over the bowler and well over long off right now. 2 needed in 2 now! 

OUT! TAKEN! This game does not fail to surprise us even more. With just 2 needed, Pakistan have lost one more wicket. Mahmudullah comes over the wicket and serves a fuller ball this time, slanting away outside off, Iftikhar Ahmed gets low and looks to smack this across the line, but he only connects this with the outside edge. The ball loops up towards the point region and Yasir Ali (sub) pouches this easily. 2 needed to win and one needed for the Super Over. Who will keep their nerve?

FOUR! PAKISTAN HAVE WON THIS! Mohammad Nawaz keeps his nerve this time. Too many stoppages and that could have unnerved him but he keeps his cool. Mahmudullah hurls across a fuller ball, outside off this time, Mohammad Nawaz skips out, gets to the pitch of the ball and smacks this one over covers for a boundary. PAKISTAN WIN BY 5 WICKETS AND WIN THE SERIES 3-0! 

DOT! A back-of-the-hand slower ball this time, outside off, stays low this time, Ali misses his shot to the off side this time. A good start by Islam! 

Back of a length, outside off, Haider Ali flat-bats this one but without much timing. It falls safely at mid off and they take a run.

NO BALL! Poor from Islam. He serves a waist-high full toss on the body, Ahmed works this wide of short fine leg and takes one. He wants another but slips at the non-striker's end. Free Hit coming up now...

Fuller, outside off, drilled to sweeper cover and only one is taken. Not much damage done to Bangladesh on the Free Hit! 

DOT AGAIN! Well bowled this time. No pace on this delivery, it's served on a fuller length outside off, Ahmed looks to crack this through the line but fails to connect. 

Slower ball again, back of a length, on the body, pulled to deep square leg for one. Can Islam end the over well?

Yes, he does finish things well but Pakistan get two off the final ball of the penultimate over. Right in the blockhole, on middle, dug out through mid-wicket and two runs are taken comfortably. 8 needed off the final over! 

A low full toss around off, hit to the fielder at long on for one. 

Well bowled by Taskin! A low, pacy full toss, on off, Haider taps this through mid on and takes one. Wants another but Sarfaraz Ahmed sends him back. 

Around off, tapped to the fielder at point, who has a shy at the striker's end but misses. Sarfaraz was going nowhere though. 

Outside off on a length, Sarfaraz's punch finds the point fielder yet again. Two dots now! 

A single now as this is stroked through mid on. A tidy over from Taskin so far! Can he end it well?

Just 4 off this one! A near-yorker, around off, jammed out towards mid off for a quick single. Pakistan needs 15 more from the last 12 deliveries! 

Tossed up, around off, knocked through mid on for a single. 

Haider Ali punches this one off his back foot to long on for one more. 

Sarfaraz Ahmed brings out the sweep and works this to deep square leg for one. 

NOT OUT! Ali is safe right now. Fuller this time, tossed up too, outside off, stays a touch low as Ali looks to work at this but misses. The keeper collects the ball and at the very last moment, seems to have whipped the bails off as Ali just lifts his foot at the last moment. The TV umpire is called in to have a look. First, they have a look at the UltraEdge and there is no bat on this. His foot is grounded too when the bails came off. Safe.

FOUR! Streaky boundary! Everything going the way of Pakistan and Ali right now. Fuller, floated, around off, Haider Ali looks for the big, booming drive through covers but only manages an outside edge. The ball sneaks past short third man and runs away to the fence. 

On middle, pushed back to the bowler now. 19 more needed from 18! 

OUT! CHOPPED ON! There goes Rizwan! The stand which looked to take Pakistan to the finish line has been broken here by Islam. His first international wicket and what a time to get it as well. He serves this on a length, outside the off pole, slightly slower too, Rizwan looks to cut this one away but only manages an inside edge, which crashes into the leg pole. Rizwan is not a happy man at all but all he can do now is walk back. 42 more needed from 29 balls now! 

On the pads this time, Ahmed looks to tuck it but misses and the ball takes the pad and goes to the leg side, as the batters sneak in a leg bye. 

SIX! Ali has picked the bones out of that one. He was waiting to smash this one away and he gets a biggie. A touch short now, around off, Haider Ali stays deep and pumps this one well over deep mid-wicket. 

WIDE. A slower one this time, but sliding down leg. Ali misses his flick and a wide is called. 

Fullish, around off, dug out to the fielder at point. 

SIX! Wow! That is some hitting from Ali and he does not stop his attack! Ali was waiting for the slower one and he dispatches that one! This is bowled in the slot by Islam, no pace on this, Haider Ali waits for it and then sweetly thumps this one over long on. The second biggie of the over! 

Overthrows! On middle, on a length, turned by Haider to the leg side now. They take one and the fielder misses his shy at the non-striker's end, which allows the batters to come back for the second. 16 off the over. An expensive one. 26 more needed from 24 balls! 

Fuller ball, on off. Rizwan hits it back to the bowler.

Shorter length, around off. Rizwan cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

Flatter and quicker, on middle. Haider knocks it back to the bowler.

Darted on the pads, Haider clips it to mid-wicket. Another dot ball.

Slightly short in length, on off. Haider slaps it to long off for a single.

  Mahedi fires this one at the pads. Rizwan clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 42 needed from last 5 overs.

SIX! HAMMERED! Mohammad Rizwan shimmies down the pitch and smashes that straight down the ground for a maximum.

A better line this time by Aminul Islam, back-of-a-length delivery, onto middle and leg. Mohammad Rizwan stays back and pulls that towards deep mid-wicket for a single. 

FOUR! Dances down the track again! Aminul Islam serves it outside off, on a fuller length. Haider looks to go over the covers but ends up slicing that towards the third man region for a boundary. Not fully in control of the shot, but gets the result. 

Slower through the air, wide of off, Haider Ali slaps that towards deep point for a single.

Wide! Aminul will have to bowl that one again. Drifting down the leg and Mohammad Rizwan lets that go to the keeper. 

Way too wide outside off, a fuller length. Mohammad Rizwan looking to chase that, but gets beaten due to the away spin. That spun a mile away from him.

Aminul Islam pitches it outside off, on a fuller length and Mohammad Rizwan takes the aerial route. He chips it towards the cover region and will keep the strike for the next over.

Shorter and quicker around leg. Haider looks to pull but gets hit on the thigh pad.

Mahedi fires in a full ball on off. Haider looks to play it off the back foot but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

FOUR! Haider gets the boundary now! Shorter length, outside off. Haider gets the room this time to cut and he does not miss out. Cuts it to backward point for a boundary.

This time Mahedi bowls this slower in the air on the pads. Haider works it to the on side for a single.

Shorter length, around off. Rizwan cuts it to deep point for a single.

Mahedi bowls this quicker and outside off. Haider looks to drive but misses. A top over by Mahedi but Bangladesh need wickets.

The leggie starts off with a shortish delivery, on to middle, Haider Ali pulls that away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pushed his length up a bit, outside off. Mohammad Rizwan chops that towards the point region for a brace.

A googly this time by Aminul Islam, back-of-a-length delivery onto middle and leg. Mohammad Rizwan pulls that to deep mid-wicket. A single taken.

Aminul Islam tossing this one up, outside off. Haider Ali pushes that towards deep cover for a single.

A leg-break delivery this time by Aminul Islam. Offered some width on this occasion. Mohammad Rizwan looks to sweep that but misses it completely. 

Ends his over with a flighted ball, around off. Mohammad Rizwan blocks that back to the bowler.

Length ball, around off. Haider steers it to third man for a single.

A very full delivery on middle, Rizwan clips it to mid-wicket. Dot ball.

Length ball, on off. Rizwan heaves it off the front foot towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, Haider steers it to third man for another single.

FOUR! Two boundaries now in two overs! Shorter delivery, wide outside off. Mohammad Rizwan cuts this hard through backward point for a boundary.

Fuller delivery this time, on middle and leg. Rizwan clips it to wide long on and gets a couple. 70 needed now from 54 balls.

Nasum Ahmed tossing it up slightly, it's darted onto the pads, Rizwan fails to work it away and it goes off his pads to square leg. A leg bye is taken.

Swing and a miss! Nasum Ahmed goes outside off this time, flatter and on a good length. Haider Ali looks to cut that but gets beaten, as the ball kept really low on that occasion. 

Flatter again and outside off, that's been punched down to long off for a run.

Serves a flighted delivery, around middle, Rizwan dabs it towards mid-wicket. A single taken.

Too straight from Nasum Ahmed and Haider Ali punches it off the back foot to mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

FOUR! A much-needed boundary for Pakistan! Mohammad Rizwan gets down on one knee and sweeps that towards square leg for a four. That was quick from Nasum Ahmed, on to the leg and Mohammad Rizwan did the rest. 79 needed off 60 balls at the halfway mark.

Aminul gives it a little air, around off. Rizwan looks to drive but gets a thick inside edge to short fine leg for a single.

Fuller, wider outside off. Haider drives it beautifully through covers but the fielder in the deep does well and keeps it to just two runs.

Beaten! Nicely tossed up again, around off. Haider looks to drive but gets beaten.

  Fuller, on off. Driven to the cover fielder. Dot ball.

Tossed up delivery on off.  Haider nudges it to the on side.

Flatter and shorter in length. Haider cuts it straight to the backward point fielder.

Quicker through the air, outside off. Mohammad Rizwan pushes that away towards point.

Flatter delivery, quick one again, pulled his length back a tad bit, around off. Mohammad Rizwan punches that off the back foot but it's straight to the fielder at cover-point.

A tad bit slower this time, shorter in length onto middle and leg. Mohammad Rizwan tucks that towards square leg for a single.

Back-of-a-length delivery, on middle. Haider Ali punches that off the back foot towards long on and rotates the strike.

Tossing it up on this occasion, fuller and on middle. Mohammad Rizwan comes down the track and plays it back to the bowler. 

Slower through the air, changes his line this time, goes on to the leg stump. Mohammad Rizwan tickles it towards square leg and will keep strike.

  Shorter delivery first up. Babar Azam gets back and pulls it to wide long on for a single.

Fuller and slower in the air, on middle. Rizwan pushes it to the on side for a quick single. Good running. The wicketkeeper runs across and fires in a direct throw at the bowler's end but Rizwan is safe.

NOT OUT! Fuller, on off, Babar Azam lifts this over covers and gets a single. He wants the second run but is sent back and has to dive. The fielder from the deep scores a direct hit at the bowler's end and it's referred upstairs. The replays find Babar safe and sound.

Flatter and on off. Rizwan works it to long on for a single.

Fuller, on middle, Babar clips it to the fielder at mid-wicket.

OUT! Babar Azam gets out cheaply yet again! A half-tracker from Aminul Islam. It is there for Babar to go for a pull. He does but fails to get the timing as the ball hits the bottom of his blade. The fielder at deep mid-wicket, Mohammad Naim, takes a straightforward catch and Babar walks back disappointed.

Nice shot for nothing. Fuller and around off, Babar drills his drive right back towards the bowler. Taskin palms it towards mid-wicket. It seems the bowler has taken a heavy blow.

Around off on a length, Babar plays it down to backward point and picks up a quick run.

Width on offer outside off, short in length, Rizwan steers it straight to the point fielder. Either side of him and it would have been a boundary.

Quick run. Back of a length, outside off, Rizwan slaps it to the right side of the cover-point fielder and scampers across to the other end. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses and Rizwan puts in a dive. The replays, later on, show that a direct hit would have sent Rizwan back.

Play and a miss! Short and wide outside off, Babar flashes his bat at it but fails to make any contact.

Shortish and outside off, Azam punches it to sweeper cover for a single. At the end of the Powerplay, Pakistan are 28/0. 97 needed more off 84 balls.

That is punched off the back foot but straight to the fielder.

FOUR! Shot! Flighted and full around middle, Babar kneels down and powers it over mid on for a boundary. He is in double figures for the first time in this series.

Quicker and on middle, helped to mid-wicket.

Wide! Skidding down the leg side, Azam tries to sweep but misses.

Loopy and around off, a mistimed chip shot played by Babar. It goes over mid off for a run.

Fuller and outside off, Mohammad Rizwan dances down the track and drags his attempted heave to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Leans forward to a full ball and pushes it with soft hands to covers. Calls for a run and completes it with ease. 

Starts with a shortish ball around off, Rizwan stays on the back foot and plays it down with soft hands to mid-wicket for one.

Lands it on a length and around off, Babar punches it from the back foot to covers.

Mistimed! Back of a length, outside off at 81 clicks, Babar drags his pull shot to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Still not from the middle but it's a boundary. Short and around off, Babar stays back to pull but it takes the upper half of his bat before rushing down the ground through mid on for a boundary.

On a length and outside off, Babar plays late towards short third man where the fielder stops the ball with a dive. A single is taken.

Short around off, Rizwan top-edges his attempted pull and it falls in no man's land at deep mid-wicket. Two taken.

Flatter and around leg, Babar stays back and defends it to mid-wicket.

Fuller and around off, quicker one, it's pushed out to mid-wicket.

Shout for an lbw, not given. Nasum Ahmed fires in a flat delivery around off, a touch short and skidding in at 92.5 kph, Babar tries to pull but misses and is hit on the back leg. They appeal but the umpire disagrees. Nasum fails to convince his skipper for the DRS. The replays show that there was no inside edge and it was clipping the leg stump. Would have been the umpire's call, anyway.

Hangs on the back foot and works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Quicker and around middle, Rizwan defends it from the back foot.

Good stop. Fuller and around middle, Rizwan steps back and drills it down the ground. The mid on fielder dives across to his left to make the stop. A single taken, just two from Nasum's first.

Taskin begins with a full ball, around off, Rizwan drives it towards mid off and scampers to the other end. Mahmudullah tries to attack the ball but fumbles while picking it up.

Shortish and around off, Babar taps it down to point and takes a quick run.

Back of a length, around off and angling in, Rizwan stays put inside the crease and pushes it defensively to covers.

This one is angled into the batsman, on a length at 89.2 mph, Rizwan shuffles across to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to square leg and they cross for a leg bye.

Short and wide outside off, Azam stays back-footed as he slaps it aerially. It's wide of backward point and the third man fielder cuts it off in the deep. The batsmen cross again.

Shortish again, around off at 89.6 mph, Rizwan controls the extra bounce well and tries to guide it down to third man. But he finds the man inside the ring instead.

Starts with a flighted ball, full and on middle, Rizwan pushes it down off the front foot to mid on.

Tossed up again, around middle, Rizwan defends it back.

Pakistan are away! Loopy one, full and around off, Rizwan works it towards wide mid on and picks up a single.

Uppish but safe. Floated delivery, full and around off, Babar chips it down towards mid on and takes a single.

Fullish and around off, Rizwan goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for another run in the over.

A touch flatter and around off, Babar defends it back after covering the angle. A good start from Mahedi.