Sarkar celebrates after bringing up his maiden ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar smashed a career-best 127 not out to help his side whitewash Pakistan 3-0 in Mirpur.
Sarkar was well supported by his opening partner Tamim Iqbal, who scored 64, as Bangladesh went on to win the match by eight wickets.
However, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali deserves a lot of credit for his century.
Ali would have been thrilled with his decision to bat first since he and debutant Sami Aslam amassed a 91-run partnership before Aslam was caught behind off the bowling of Nasir Hossain for 45.
Mohammad Hafeez only made four runs before he was clean bowled by Arafat Sunny.
Ali and Haris Sohail stabilised the innings with a 98-run partnership, during which Ali brought up his maiden ODI century and Sohail his half-century, before Ali was cleaned up by Shakib Al Hasan.
Ali’s career-best knock of 101 came off 112 balls and included 10 boundaries.
Ali is delighted after scoring his maiden ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Sohail went on to score 52 off 58 deliveries, which included one boundary and two sixes, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza.
Sohail made a gutsy 52
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Following Sohail’s dismissal, Pakistan’s middle and lower order completely collapsed as they went from 207/4 to being bowled out for 250.
Mortaza, Sunny, Al Hasan and Rubel Hossain picked up two wickets apiece, while Nasir Hossain chipped in with one.
Chasing 251 to win, Bangladesh got off to a brilliant start as Sarkar and Iqbal put together a 145-run partnership, during which both batsmen registered their half-centuries, before Iqbal was given out lbw off the bowling of Junaid Khan.
Iqbal reviewed the decision immediately, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit the top of off stump. This led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.
Iqbal’s excellent innings of 64 came off 76 balls and included eight boundaries and a six.
Iqbal’s superb form with the bat continued
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Mahmudullah failed to have an impact with the bat as he was clean bowled by Khan for four runs.
Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim finished things off with an unbeaten 97-run partnership, during which Sarkar recorded his maiden ODI century.
Sarkar finished on a career-best 127 not out, which came off 110 balls and included 13 boundaries and six sixes, while Rahim remained undefeated on 49 off 43 deliveries, which included six boundaries.
Khan was the only bowler to take any wickets.
Ali was disappointed with his team’s performance, and said: “First of all I would like to congratulate Bangladesh. They played good cricket. We played well in patches but we could not put it together. As everybody knows, the senior players have left. The youngsters have to stand up and we have to pull our heads together. We have some experienced guys for T20s and Tests. We will put in a better performance.”
Mortaza was ecstatic to have whitewashed Pakistan, and said: “he way the boys are playing, it is pleasing. This is a good team. Soumya [Sarkar] was brilliant today. We will now focus on the T20 and then Tests.
Sarkar was named Man of the Match, while Iqbal was named Man of the Series.