Shaheens narrowly miss victory in electrifying match as Bangladesh A equalizes series
Shaheens narrowly miss victory in electrifying match as Bangladesh A equalizes series: In a nail-biting finish on Monday at the DXC Arena in Darwin, the Pakistan Shaheens came up just five runs short of a -run target in their second four-day match against Bangladesh A. The game saw constant shifts in momentum as Bangladesh A bowlers claimed six wickets at crucial moments, while the Shaheens’ batters showed resilience but ultimately fell short.
On the fourth day, 56.2 overs were played during which the Shaheens scored 154 runs. Bangladesh A captain Mahmudul Hasan Joy led his side with a remarkable five-wicket haul, finishing with impressive figures of 5-21 from 13 overs.
Starting the day, the Shaheens needed 160 runs for victory, with Haseebullah and Tayyab Tahir at the crease. Haseebullah (51, 120b, 7x4s) added just seven runs to his overnight score of 44 before being dismissed. Tayyab (43, 97b, 3x4s) and Omair Bin Yousuf (45, 103b, 4x4s) then combined for a determined 65-run sixth-wicket partnership over 21 overs, which ended when Mahmudul took Tayyab’s wicket in the 66th over.
Omair’s innings concluded 57 balls later when he was caught off Mahmudul’s bowling while Shaheens still needed 65 runs to win with Mohammad Ali at the crease. Khurram Shahzad and Ali built a fighting eighth-wicket partnership, producing 57 runs off 93 balls, temporarily keeping Bangladesh A at bay.
Mahmudul struck again by dismissing Ali, who scored 21 off 63 balls with four boundaries, leaving the Shaheens just eight runs short of a win. Shortly after, Khurram’s brave 28 runs from 57 balls, supported by three fours and a six, ended thanks to Mahmudul as well.
Faisal Akram managed only a single run from seven balls before being bowled by Hasan Murad, securing a series-levelling victory for Bangladesh A. Mahmudul received good support from Rejaur Rehman Raja and Hasan Murad, who recorded figures of 3-85 and 2-62, respectively.
Scores in brief:
Bangladesh A won by five runs
Bangladesh A: 258 AO, 67.3 overs (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 69, Aich Mollah 55, Mahidul Islam Ankon 31, Parvez Hossain Emon 30; Khurram Shahzad 3-69, Kamran Ghulam 2-6, Kashif Ali 2-21, Faisal Akram 2-87) Bangladesh ‘A’: 216 AO, 70.1 overs (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 65, Aich Mollah 58, Shahadat Hossain 33; Mohammad Ali 6-63, Khurram Shahzad 3-67, Faisal Akram 1-51)
Pakistan Shaheens: 179 AO, 67.2 overs (Kamran Ghulam 48, Tayyab Tahir 30, Umar Amin 25; Ripon Mondol 4-71, Rejaur Rehman Raja 3-33, Hasan Murad 2-32) Pakistan Shaheens: 290 AO, 93.2 overs (S.Farhan 68, Haseebullah 51, Omair Bin Yousuf 45, Tayyab Tahir 43; Mahmudul Hasan Joy 5-21, Rejaur Rehman Raja 3-85, Hasan Murad 2-62)
