Bangladesh made history in Mirpur on July 22 (Tuesday) by securing their first-ever bilateral T20 International (T20I) series win over Pakistan involving more than one match. With an eight-run victory in the second T20I, the home side now leads the three-match series 2-0 — an achievement that will be remembered for years in Bangladesh cricket.
Pakistan Collapse Early in Run Chase
The second T20I was a low-scoring thriller. Chasing a modest target of 134, Pakistan’s top order crumbled under pressure, slumping to 15/5 in the first five overs, their lowest total ever at the fall of five wickets in a T20I match.
Lowest Pakistan Scores at Fall of 5 Wickets in T20Is:
- 15/5 vs Bangladesh, Mirpur (2025)
- 16/5 vs Australia, Brisbane (2024)
- 19/5 vs Australia, Dubai (2012)
Things hardly improved in the powerplay as Pakistan could only crawl to 17/5 at the end of six overs, one of their poorest starts in the format.
Pakistan’s Worst Powerplay Collapses (First 6 Overs, 5+ Wickets Lost):
- 53/7 vs Australia, Brisbane (2024) – Rain-curtailed
- 17/5 vs Bangladesh, Mirpur (2025)
- 21/5 vs Australia, Dubai (2012)
- 42/5 vs New Zealand, Mount Maunganui (2025)
Late Fightback Not Enough for Pakistan
Despite the nightmare start, Pakistan almost pulled off a remarkable comeback, thanks to a gritty maiden T20I half-century from Faheem Ashraf. He stitched a 41-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Abbas Afridi, followed by another 33-run stand with Ahmed Daniyal, who was making his debut.
Their effort, however, wasn’t enough to cover the damage done at the top of the order. Pakistan eventually fell just eight runs short, handing Bangladesh a famous series win. This marks only the second time Bangladesh have beaten Pakistan in a T20I, with the first coming in a one-off match in 2015 — also in Mirpur — where they won by seven wickets.
What’s Next?
The final T20I of the series will be played on July 24 (Thursday) in Mirpur. With the series already decided, Pakistan, led by Salma Agha, will look to restore some pride and avoid a whitewash, while Bangladesh will aim to complete a clean sweep at home.
